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WAVING HER IIAN1) ANI) LOOKING AFTER HER DEPARTING FRIEND TILL HE SEEMED NO BIGGER 

THAN A LITTLE DOT 


Page 228 







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HEIDI 

BY 

JOHANNA SPYRI 

TRANSLATED BY 

ELISABETH P. STORK 

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY 

CHARLES WHARTON STORK, A.M., Ph.D. 


14 ILLUSTRATIONS IN COLOR BY 
MARIA L. KIRK 


GIFT EDITION 



PHILADELPHIA AND LONDON 
J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 
1919 


£ 



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COPYRIGHT, 1915, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 

ADDITIONAL ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS 
COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 


PRINTED BY J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY 
AT THE WASHINGTON SQUARE PRESS 
PHILADELPHIA, U. S. A. 


Dei -2 1919 


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INTRODUCTION 

Unassuming in plot and style, “Heidi” 
may none the less lay claim to rank as a 
world classic. In the first place, both back¬ 
ground and characters ring true. The air 
of the Alps is wafted to us in every page; the 
house among the pines, the meadows, and 
the eagle poised above the naked rocks 
form a picture that no one could willingly 
forget. And the people, from the kindly 
towns-folk to the quaint and touching peas¬ 
ant types, are as real as any representation 
of human nature need be. Every goat even, 
has its personality. As for the little hero¬ 
ine, she is a blessing not only to everyone 
in the story, but to everyone who reads it. 
The narrative merits of the book are too 
apparent to call for comment. 

As to the author, Johanna Spyri, she has 
so entirely lost herself in her creation that 
we may pass over her career rather rapidly. 
She was born in Switzerland in 1829, came 


5 


INTRODUCTION 


of a literary family, and devoted all her tal¬ 
ent to the writing of books for and about 
children. 

Since “Heidi” has been so often trans¬ 
lated into English it may well be asked 
why there is any need for a new version. 
The answer lies partly in the conventional 
character of the previous translations. Now, 
if there is any quality in “Heidi” that 
gives it a particular charm, that quality is 
freshness, absolute spontaneity. To be sure, 
the story is so attractive that it could never 
be wholly spoiled; but has not the reader 
the right to enjoy it in English at least 
very nearly as much as he could in German? 
The two languages are so different in nature 
that anything like a literal rendering of one 
into the other is sure to result in awkward¬ 
ness and indirectness. Such a book must 
be not translated, but re-lived and re-cre¬ 
ated. 

To perform such a feat the writer must, 
to begin with, be familiar with the moun¬ 
tains, and able to appreciate with Wordsworth 

6 




INTRODUCTION 


The silence that is in the starry sky, 

The sleep that is among the lonely hills. 

The translator of the present version was born 
and reared in a region closely similar to that 
of the story. Her home was originally in 
the picturesque town of Salzburg, and her 
father, Franz von Pausinger, was one of the 
greatest landscape painters of his country 
and generation. Another equally impor¬ 
tant requisite is knowledge of children. It 
happens that this translator has a daughter 
just the age of the heroine, who moreover 
loves to dress in Tyrolese costume. To 
translate “Heidi” was for her therefore a 
labor of love, which means that the love 
contended with and overcame the labor. 

The English style of the present version 
is, then, distinctive. It has often been no¬ 
ticed that those who acquire a foreign lan¬ 
guage often learn to speak it with un¬ 
usual clearness and purity. For illustration 
we need go no further than Joseph Conrad, 
a Pole, probably the greatest master of nar- 

7 


A- 


INTRODUCTION 


rative English writing to-day; or to our own 
fellow-citizen Carl Schurz. In the present 
case, the writer has lived seven years in 
America and has strengthened an excellent 
training with a wide reading of the best Eng¬ 
lish classics. 

Many people say that they read without 
noticing the author’s style. This is seldom 
quite true; unconsciously every one is im¬ 
pressed in some way or other by the style 
of every book, or by its lack of style. Chil¬ 
dren are particularly sensitive in this re¬ 
spect and should, therefore, as much as is 
practicable, read only the best. In the new 
translation of “Heidi” here offered to the 
public I believe that most readers will no¬ 
tice an especial flavor, that very quality 
of delight in mountain scenes, in mountain 
people and in child life generally, which is 
one of the chief merits of the German orig¬ 
inal. The phrasing has also been carefully 
adapted to the purpose of reading aloud— 
a thing that few translators think of. In 
conclusion, the author, realising the dif- 


INTRODUCTION 


ference between the two languages, has en¬ 
deavored to write the story afresh, as 
Johanna Spyri would have written it had 
English been her native tongue. How suc¬ 
cessful the attempt has been the reader will 
judge. 

Charles Wharton Stork 
Assistant Professor of English at the 
University of Pennsylvania 


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CONTENTS 

PART I 

HEIDI’S YEARS OF LEARNING AND TRAVEL 

CHAPTER PAGE 

I. Going up to the Alm-Uncle. 17 

II. With the Grandfather. SS 

III. On the Pasture. 50 

IV. In the Grandmother’s Hut. (»7 

V. Two Visitors. 83 

VI. A New Chapter with New Things. 95 

VII. Miss Rottenmeier Has an Uncomfortable Day . . 104 
VIII. Great Disturbances in the Sesemann House. ... 119 
IX. The Master of the House Hears of Strange 

Doings. 129 

X. A Grandmama. 136 

XI. Heidi Gains in Some Respects and Loses in Others 146 

XII. The Sesemann House is Haunted. 153 

XIII. Up the Alp on a Summer Evening . 165 

XIV. On Sunday When the Church Bells Ring. 183 



PART II 

HEIDI MAKES USE OF HER EXPERIENCE 



XV. 

XVI. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XIX. 

XX. 

XXL 

XXII. 

XXIII. 


Preparations for a Journey. . . 

A Guest on the Alp. 

Retaliation. 

Winter in the Village. 

Winter Still Continues. 

News from Distant Friends. . . . 
On Further Events on the Alp 
Something Unexpected Happens 
Parting to Meet Again. 


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ILLUSTRATIONS 


PAGE 

Waving Her Hand and Looking After Her Departing 
Friend till He Looked No Bigger than a Little 
D° t . Frontispiece 

She Undid the Heavy Shawl and the Two Little 
Dresses. 30 

Here a Neat Little Bed Was Prepared. 41 1 / 

She Handed Him Also the Whole Slice of Cheese. 57 

Off they Started at Such a Pace that Heidi Shouted 

for Joy. 71^ 

When Heidi Heard that She Struggled to Get Free. ... 92 

Off they Started, and Soon Heidi Was Pulling the 

Door-Bell.. 116^ 

There She Would Remain, Eating Her Heart Away with 
Longing. 152 

Throwing Herself in Her Grandfather’s Arms, She 

Held Him Tight. 179 ^ 

With Heidi’s Hand in His They Wandered Down Together 192 - 

They Are Coming, Oh, the Doctor is Coming First. 211 

The Two Children W t ere Already Flying Down the Alp 241 L 

He Watched His Fallen Enemy Tumbling Downwards, 

Downwards. 277" 

Peter Shot Off and Rushed Down the Mountain-side, 

Turning Wild Somersaults on His Perilous Way. .. 298 





























































































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, 4 



















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Heidi’s Years of Learning and Travel 



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HEIDI 


i 


GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 



HE little old town of Mayen- 
feld is charmingly situated. 
From it a footpath leads 
through green, well-wooded 
stretches to the foot of the 


heights which look down imposingly upon the 
valley. Where the footpath begins to go 
steeply and abruptly up the Alps, the heath, 
with its short grass and pungent herbage, 
at once sends out its soft perfume to meet 
the wayfarer. 

One bright sunny morning in June, a tall, 
vigorous maiden of the mountain region 
climbed up the narrow path, leading a little 
girl by the hand. The youngster’s cheeks 
were in such a glow that it showed even 
through her sun-browned skin. Small won- 

2 IT 






HEIDI 


der though! for in spite of the heat, the 
little one, who was scarcely five years old, 
was bundled up as if she had to brave a 
bitter frost. Her shape was difficult to dis¬ 
tinguish, for she wore two dresses, if not 
three, and around her shoulders a large red 
cotton shawl. With her feet encased in 
heavy hob-nailed boots, this hot and shape¬ 
less little person toiled up the mountain. 

The pair had been climbing for about an 
hour when they reached a hamlet half-way 
up the great mountain named the Aim. 
This hamlet was called “Im Dorfli” or 
“The Little Village. ” It was the elder 
girl’s home town, and therefore she was 
greeted from nearly every house; people 
called to her from windows and doors, and 
very often from the road. But, answering 
questions and calls as she went by, the girl 
did not loiter on her way and only stood 
still when she reached the end of the ham¬ 
let. There a few cottages lay scattered about, 
from the furthest of which a voice called 
out to her through an open door: “Deta, 


GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 

please wait one moment! I am coming with 
you, if you are going further up. ” 

When the girl stood still to wait, the 
child instantly let go her hand and promptly 
sat down on the ground. 

“Are you tired, Heidi?” Deta asked the 
child. 

“No, but hot,” she replied. 

“We shall be up in an hour, if you take 
big steps and climb with all your little 
might!” Thus the elder girl tried to en¬ 
courage her small companion. 

A stout, pleasant-looking woman stepped 
out of the house and joined the two. The 
child had risen and wandered behind the 
old acquaintances, who immediately started 
gossiping about their friends in the neighbor¬ 
hood and the people of the hamlet generally. 

“Where are you taking the child, Deta?” 
asked the newcomer. “Is she the child 
your sister left?” 

“Yes,” Deta assured her; “I am taking 
her up to the Aim-Uncle and there I want 
her to remain.” 


HEIDI 


“You can’t really mean to take her there 
Deta. You must have lost your senses, to 
go to him. I am sure the old man will 
show you the door and won’t even listen 
to what you say.” 

“Why not? As he’s her grandfather, it 
is high time he should do something for the 
child. I have taken care of her until this 
summer and now a good place has been 
offered to me. The child shall not hinder 
me from accepting it, I tell you that!” 

“It would not be so hard, if he were like 
other mortals. But you know him yourself. 
How could he look after a child, especially 
such a little one? She’ll never get along with 
him, I am sure of that!—But tell me of your 
prospects.” 

“I am going to a splendid house in 
Frankfurt. Last summer some people went 
off to the baths and I took care of their 
rooms. As they got to like me, they wanted 
to take me along, but I could not leave. 
They have come back now and have per¬ 
suaded me to go with them.” 


GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 


“I am glad I am not the child!” exclaimed 
Barbara with a shudder. “ Nobody knows 
anything about the old man’s life up there. 
He doesn’t speak to a living soul, and from 
one year’s end to the other he keeps away 
from church. People get out of his way 
when he appears once in a twelve-month 
down here among us. We all fear him 
and he is really just like a heathen or an 
old Indian, with those thick grey eyebrows 
and that huge uncanny beard. When he 
wanders along the road with his twisted 
stick we are all afraid to meet him 
alone. ” 

“That is not my fault,” said Beta stub¬ 
bornly. “He won’t do her any harm; and 
if he should, he is responsible, not I.” 

“I wish I knew what weighs on the old 
man’s conscience. Why are his eyes so 
fierce and why does he live up there all 
alone? Nobody ever sees him and we hear 
many strange things about him. Didn’t 
your sister tell you anything, Deta?” 

“Of course she did, but I shall hold my 


HEIDI 

tongue. He would make me pay for it if 
I didn’t. ” 

Barbara had long been anxious to know 
something about the old uncle and why he 
lived apart from everybody. Nobody had 
a good word for him, and when people talked 
about him, they did not speak openly but 
as if they were afraid. She could not even 
explain to herself why he was called the 
Aim-Uncle. He could not possibly be the 
uncle of all the people in the village, but 
since everybody spoke of him so, she did 
the same. Barbara, who had only lived in 
the village since her marriage, was glad to get 
some information from her friend. Deta had 
been bred there, but since her mother’s 
death had gone away to earn her livelihood. 

She confidentially seized Deta’s arm and 
said: “I wish you would tell me the truth 
about him, Deta; you know it all—people 
only gossip. Tell me, what has happened 
to the old man to turn everybody against 
him so? Did he always hate his fellow- 
creatures?” 

22 



GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 


“I cannot tell you whether he always did, 
and that for a very good reason. He being 
sixty years old, and I only twenty-six, you 
can’t expect me to give you an account of 
his early youth. But if you’ll promise to 
keep it to yourself and not set all the people 
in Pratiggan talking, I can tell you a good 
deal. My mother and he both came from 
Domleschg. ” 

“How can you talk like that, Deta?” re¬ 
plied Barbara in an offended tone. “People 
do not gossip much in Pratiggan, and I 
always can keep things to myself, if I have 
to. You won’t repent of having told me, 
I assure you!” 

“All right, but keep your word!” said 
Deta warningly. Then she looked around to 
see that the child was not so close to them 
as to overhear what might be said; but the 
little girl was nowhere to be seen. While 
the two young women had talked at such a 
rate, they had not noticed her absence; 
quite a while must have elapsed since the 
little girl had given up following her com- 

23 


HEIDI 


panions. Deta, standing still, looked about 
her everywhere, but no one was on the path, 
which—except for a few curves—was visible 
as far down as the village. 

“There she is! Can’t you see her there?” 
exclaimed Barbara, pointing to a spot a 
good distance from the path. “She is climb¬ 
ing up with the goatherd Peter and his goats. 
I wonder why he is so late to-day. I must 
say, it suits us well enough; he can look 
after the child while you tell me everything 
without being interrupted.” 

“It will be very easy for Peter to watch 
her,” remarked Deta; “she is bright for her 
five years and keeps her eyes wide open. 
I have often noticed that and I am glad 
for her, for it will be useful with the uncle. 
He has nothing left in the whole wide world, 
but his cottage and two goats!” 

“Did he once have more?” asked Barbara. 

“I should say so. He was heir to a large 
farm in Domleschg. But setting up to play 
the fine gentleman, he soon lost everything 
with drink and play. His parents died with 

24 




GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 


grief and he himself disappeared from these 
parts. After many years he came back with 
a half-grown boy, his son. Tobias, that was 
his name, became a carpenter and turned out 
to be a quiet, steady fellow. Many strange 
rumors went round about the uncle and I 
think that was why he left Domleschg for 
Dorfli. We acknowledged relationship, my 
mother’s grandmother being a cousin of his. 
We called him uncle, and because we are 
related on my father’s side to nearly all 
the people in the hamlet they too all called 
him uncle. He was named ‘Aim-Uncle’ 
when he moved up to the Aim.” 

“But what happened to Tobias?” asked 
Barbara eagerly. 

“Just wait. How can I tell you every¬ 
thing at once?” exclaimed Deta. “Tobias 
was an apprentice in Mels, and when he 
was made master, he came home to the 
village and married my sister Adelheid. 
They always had been fond of each other 
and they lived very happily as man and 
wife. But their joy was short. Two years 


HEIDI 


afterwards, when Tobias was helping to 
build a house, a beam fell on him and killed 
him. Adelheid was thrown into a violent 
fever with grief and fright, and never re¬ 
covered from it. She had never been strong 
and had often suffered from queer spells, 
when we did not know whether she was 
awake or asleep. Only a few weeks after 
Tobias’s death they buried poor Adelheid. 

“ People said that heaven had punished 
the uncle for his misdeeds. After the 
death of his son he never spoke to a liv¬ 
ing soul. Suddenly he moved up to the 
Alp, to live there at enmity with God and 
man. 

“ My mother and I took Adelheid’s little 
year-old baby, Heidi, to live with us. When 
I went to Ragatz I took her with me; 
but in the spring the family whose w 7 ork 
I had done last year came from Frankfurt 
and resolved to take me to their town-house. 
I am very glad to get such a good position. ” 

“And now you want to hand over the 

child to this terrible old man. I really won- 

26 


GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 


der how you can do it, Deta!” said Barbara 
with reproach in her voice. 

“It seems to me I have really done enough 
for the child. I do not know where else 
to take her, as she is too young to come with 
me to Frankfurt. By the way, Barbara, 
where are you going? We are half-way up 
the Aim already.” 

Deta shook hands with her companion and 
stood still while Barbara approached the 
tiny, dark-brown mountain hut, which lay 
in a hollow a few steps away from the path. 

Situated half-way up the Aim, the cottage 
was luckily protected from the mighty winds. 
Had it been exposed to the tempests, it 
would have been a doubtful habitation in 
the state of decay it was in. Even as it 
was, the doors and windows rattled and the 
old rafters shook when the south wind 
swept the mountain side. If the hut had 
stood on the Aim top, the wind would have 
blown it down the valley without much ado 
when the storm season came. 

Here lived Peter the goatherd, a boy 



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HEIDI 


eleven years old, who daily fetched the 
goats from the village and drove them up 
the mountain to the short and luscious 
grasses of the pastures. Peter raced down 
in the evening with the light-footed little 
goats. When he whistled sharply through 
his fingers, every owner would come and 
get his or her goat. These owners were 
mostly small boys and girls and, as the 
goats were friendly, they did not fear them. 
That was the only time Peter spent with 
other children, the rest of the day the ani¬ 
mals were his sole companions. At home 
lived his mother and an old blind grand¬ 
mother, but he only spent enough time in 
the hut to swallow his bread and milk for 
breakfast and the same repast for supper. 
After that he sought his bed to sleep. He 
always left early in the morning and at 
night he came home late, so that he could 
be with his friends as long as possible. His 
father had met with an accident some years 
ago; he also had been called Peter the 
goatherd. His mother, whose name was 


GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 


Brigida, was called “Goatherd Peter’s wife” 
and his blind grandmother was called by 
young and old from many miles about just 
“grandmother.” 

Deta waited about ten minutes to see if 
the children were coming up behind with 
the goats. As she could not find them any¬ 
where, she climbed up a little higher to 
get a better view down the valley from there, 
and peered from side to side with marks 
of great impatience on her countenance. 

The children in the meantime were as¬ 
cending slowly in a zigzag way, Peter al¬ 
ways knowing where to find all sorts of 
good grazing places for his goats where they 
could nibble. Thus they strayed from side 
to side. The poor little girl had followed 
the boy only with the greatest effort and 
she was panting in her heavy clothes. She 
was so hot and uncomfortable that she only 
climbed by exerting all her strength. She did 
not say anything but looked enviously at 
Peter, who jumped about so easily in his 
light trousers and bare feet. She envied even 



HEIDI 


more the goats that climbed over bushes, 
stones, and steep inclines with their slender 
legs. Suddenly sitting down on the ground 
the child swiftly took off her shoes and 
stockings. Getting up she undid the heavy 
shawl and the two little dresses. Out she 
slipped without more ado and stood up in 
only a light petticoat. In sheer delight at 
the relief, she threw up her dimpled arms, 
that were bare up to her short sleeves. To 
save the trouble of carrying them, her aunt 
had dressed her in her Sunday clothes over 
her workday garments. Heidi arranged her 
dresses neatly in a heap and joined Peter 
and the goats. She was now as light-footed 
as any of them. When Peter, who had not 
paid much attention, saw her suddenly in her 
light attire, he grinned. Looking back, he saw 
the little heap of dresses on the ground and 
then he grinned yet more, till his mouth 
seemed to reach from ear to ear; but he 
said never a word. 

The child, feeling free and comfortable, 
started to converse with Peter, and he had 

30 



SHE UNDID THE HEAVY SHAWL AND THE TWO IJTTI E DRESSES 


































































































GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 


to answer many questions. She asked him 
how many goats he had, and where he led 
them, what he did with them when he got 
there, and so forth. 

At last the children reached the summit 
in front of the hut. When Deta saw the 
little party of climbers she cried out shrilly: 
“Heidi, what have you done? What a sight 
you are! Where are your dresses and your 
shawl? Are the new shoes gone that I just 
bought for you, and the new stockings that 
I made myself? Where are they all, Heidi?” 

The child quietly pointed down and said 
“There.” 

The aunt followed the direction of her 




finger and descried a little heap with a 
small red dot in the middle, which she recog¬ 
nized as the shawl. 


“Unlucky child!” Deta said 
“What does all this mean? Win 
taken your things all off? ” 



“Because I do not need them,” said the 
child, not seeming in the least repentant 


of her deed. 



HEIDI 




,/ 

/ 


\ 




“How can you be so stupid, Heidi? Have 
you lost your senses?” the aunt went on, 
in a tone of mingled vexation and reproach. 
“Who do you think will go way down 
there to fetch those things up again? It 
is half-an-hour’s walk. Please, Peter, run 
down and get them. Do not stand and 
stare at me as if you were glued to the spot. ” 

“I am late already,” replied Peter, and 
stood without moving from the place where, 
with his hands in his trousers’ pockets, he had 
witnessed the violent outbreak of Heidi’s aunt. 

“There you are, standing and staring, but 
that won’t get you further,” said Deta. 
“I’ll give you this if you go down.” With 
that she held a five-penny-piece under his 
eyes. That made Peter start and in a great 
hurry he ran down the straightest path. He 
arrived again in so short a time that Deta 
had to praise him and gave him her little 
coin without delay. He did not often get 
such a treasure, and therefore his face was 
beaming and he laughingly dropped the 
money deep into his pocket. 


GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 


“If you are going up to the uncle, as we 
are, you can carry the pack till we get 
there,” said Deta. They still had to climb 
a steep ascent that lay behind Peter’s hut. 
The boy readily took the things and followed 
Deta, his left arm holding the bundle and 
his right swinging the stick. Heidi jumped 
along gaily by his side with the goats. 

After three quarters of an hour they 
reached the height where the hut of the 
old man stood on a prominent rock, exposed 
to every wind, but bathed in the full sun¬ 
light. From there you could gaze far down 
into the valley. Behind the hut stood three 
old fir-trees with great shaggy branches. 
Further back the old grey rocks rose high 
and sheer. Above them you could see green 
and fertile pastures, till at last the stony 
boulders reached the bare, steep cliffs. 

Overlooking the valley the uncle had made 
himself a bench, by the side of the hut. 
Here he sat, with his pipe between his teeth 
and both hands resting on his knees. He 
quietly watched the children climbing up 


HEIDI 


with the goats and Aunt Deta behind them, 
for the children had caught up to her long ago. 
Heidi reached the top first, and approach¬ 
ing the old man she held out her hand to him 
and said: “Good evening, grandfather!” 

“Well, well, what does that mean?” re¬ 
plied the old man in a rough voice. Giving 
her his hand for only a moment, he watched 
her with a long and penetrating look from 
under his bushy brows. Heidi gazed back 
at him with an unwinking glance and ex¬ 
amined him with much curiosity, for he was 
strange to look at, with his thick, grey 
beard and shaggy eyebrows, that met in the 
middle like a thicket. 

Heidi’s aunt had arrived in the meantime 
with Peter, who was eager to see what was 
going to happen. 

“Good-day to you, uncle,” said Deta as 
she approached. “This is Tobias’s and Adel- 
heid’s child. You won’t be able to remember 
her, because last time you saw her she was 
scarcely a year old.” 

“Why do you bring her here?” asked the 

34 


GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 


uncle, and turning to Peter he said: “Get 
away and bring my goats. How late you 
are already!” 

Peter obeyed and disappeared on the 
spot; the uncle had looked at him in such a 
manner that he was glad to go. 

“Uncle, I have brought the little girl for 
you to keep,” said Deta. “I have done 
my share these last four years and now it 
is your turn to provide for her.” 

The old man’s eyes flamed with anger. 
“Indeed!” he said. “What on earth shall 
I do, when she begins to whine and cry 
for you? Small children always do, and 
then I’ll be helpless.” 

“You’ll have to look out for that!” Deta 
retorted. “When the little baby was left 
in my hands a few years ago, I had to find 
out how to care for the little innocent my¬ 
self and nobody told me anything. I al¬ 
ready had mother on my hands and there 
was plenty for me to do. You can’t blame 
me if I want to earn some money now. 
If you can’t keep the child, you can do 

35 



A. 




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HEIDI 


with her whatever you please. If she 
comes to harm you are responsible and I 
am sure you do not want to burden your 
conscience any further.” 

Deta had said more in her excitement 
than she had intended, just because her 
conscience was not quite clear. The uncle 
had risen during her last words and now 
he gave her such a look that she retreated 
a few steps. Stretching out his arm in a 
commanding gesture, he said to her: “ Away 
with you! Begone! Stay wherever you 
came from and don’t venture soon again 
into my sight!” 

Deta did not have to be told twice. She 
said “Good-bye” to Heidi and “Farewell” 
to the uncle, and started down the mountain. 
Like steam her excitement seemed to drive 
her forward, and she ran down at a tre¬ 
mendous rate. The people in the village 
called to her now more than they had on 
her way up, because they all were wonder¬ 
ing where she had left the child. They 
were well acquainted with both and knew 


GOING UP TO THE ALM-UNCLE 


their history. When she heard from door 
and windows: “Where is the child ? ” 
“Where have you left her, Deta?” and so 
forth, she answered more and more re¬ 
luctantly: “Up with the Aim-Uncle,—with 
the Aim-Uncle!” She became much pro¬ 
voked because the women called to her from 
every side: “How could you do it?” “The 
poor little creature!” “The idea of leav¬ 
ing such a helpless child up there!” and, 
over and over again: “The poor little dear!” 
Deta ran as quickly as she could and was 
glad when she heard no more calls, because, 
to tell the truth, she herself was uneasy. 
Her mother had asked her on her death¬ 
bed to care for Heidi. But she consoled 
herself with the thought that she would be 
able to do more for the child if she could 
earn some money. She was very glad to 
go away from people who interfered in her 
affairs, and looked forward with great de¬ 
light to her new place. 


II 

WITH THE GRANDFATHER 





HER Deta had disappeared, 
the Uncle sat down again on 
the bench, blowing big clouds 
of smoke out of his pipe. He 
did not speak, but kept his 
eyes fastened on the ground. In the mean¬ 



time Heidi looked about her, and discovering 
the goat-shed, peeped in. Nothing could be 
seen inside. Searching for some more inter¬ 
esting thing, she saw the three old fir-trees 
behind the hut. Here the wind was roaring 
through the branches and the tree-tops were 
swaying to and fro. Heidi stood still to listen. 
After the wind had ceased somewhat, she 
w T alked round the hut back to her grand¬ 
father. She found him in exactly the same 
position, and planting herself in front of the 
old man, with arms folded behind her back, 
she gazed at him. The grandfather, looking 
up, saw the child standing motionless before 







WITH THE GRANDFATHER 


him. “What do you want to do now?” he 
asked her. 

“I want to see what’s in the hut,” replied 
Heidi. 

“Come then,” and w T ith that the grand¬ 
father got up and entered the cottage. 

“Take your things along,” he commanded. 

“I do not want them any more,” answered 
Heidi. 

The old man, turning about, threw a pene¬ 
trating glance at her. The child’s black 
eyes were sparkling in expectation of all the 
things to come. “ She is not lacking in intelli¬ 
gence,” he muttered to himself. Aloud he 
added : 44 Why don’t you need them any more ?’’ 

“I want to go about like the light-footed 
goats!” 

“All right, you can; but fetch the things 
and we’ll put them in the cupboard.” The 
child obeyed the command. The old man 
now opened the door, and Heidi followed 
him into a fairly spacious room, which took 
in the entire expanse of the hut. In one 
corner stood a table and a chair, and in 

39 


HEIDI 


another the grandfather’s bed. Across the 
room a large kettle was suspended over the 
hearth, and opposite to it a large door was 
sunk into the wall. This the grandfather 
opened. It was the cupboard, in which all 
his clothes were kept. In one shelf were a 
few shirts, socks and towels; on another a 
few plates, cups and glasses; and on the top 
shelf Heidi could see a round loaf of bread, 
some bacon and cheese. In this cupboard 
the grandfather kept everything that he 
needed for his subsistence. When he opened 
it, Heidi pushed her things as far behind 
the grandfather’s clothes as she could reach. 
She did not want them found again in a 
hurry. After looking around attentively in 
the room, she asked, “Where am I going 
to sleep, grandfather?” 

“ Wherever you want to,” he replied. That 
suited Heidi exactly. She peeped into all 
the corners of the room and looked at every 
little nook to find a cosy place to sleep. 
Beside the old man’s bed she saw a ladder. 
Climbing up, she arrived at a hayloft, which 




HERE A NEAT LITTLE BED WAS PREPARED 

















WITH THE GRANDFATHER 


was filled with fresh and fragrant hay. 
Through a tiny round window she could 
look far down into the valley. 

“I want to sleep up here,” Heidi called 
down. “Oh, it is lovely here. Please come 
up, grandfather, and see it for yourself.” 

“I know it,” sounded from below. 

“I am making the bed now,” the little girl 
called out again, while she ran busily to and 
fro. “Oh, do come up and bring a sheet, 
grandfather, for every bed must have a sheet.” 

“Is that so?” said the old man. After a 
while he opened the cupboard and rummaged 
around in it. At last he pulled out a long 
coarse cloth from under the shirts. It some¬ 
what resembled a sheet, and with this he 
climbed up to the loft. Here a neat little 
bed was already prepared. On top the hay 
was heaped up high so that the head of 
the occupant would lie exactly opposite 
the window. 

The grandfather was well pleased with the 
arrangement. To prevent the hard floor 
from being felt, he made the couch twice as 

41 


HEIDI 


thick. Then he and Heidi together put the 
heavy sheet on, tucking the ends in well. 
Heidi looked thoughtfully at her fresh, new 
bed and said, “ Grandfather, we have for¬ 
gotten something.” 

“What?” he asked. 

“I have no cover. When I go to bed I 
always creep in between the sheet and the 
cover.” 

“What shall we do if I haven’t any?” 
asked the grandfather. 

“Never mind, I’ll just take some more 
hay to cover me,” Heidi reassured him, and 
was just going to the heap of hay when the 
old man stopped her. 

“Just wait one minute,” he said, and went 
down to his own bed. From it he took a 
large, heavy linen bag and brought it to 
the child. 

“Isn’t this better than hay?” he asked. 

Ileidi pulled the sack to and fro with all 
her might, but she could not unfold it, for it 
was too heavy for her little arms. The grand¬ 
father put the thick cover on the bed while 

42 



WITH THE GRANDFATHER 


Heidi watched him. After it was all done, she 
said: “What a nice bed I have now, and 
what a splendid cover! I only wish the even¬ 
ing was here, that I might go to sleep in it.” 

“I think we might eat something first,” 
said the grandfather. “ Don’t you think so?” 

Heidi had forgotten everything else in her 
interest for the bed; but when she was re¬ 
minded of her dinner, she noticed how 
terribly hungry she really was. She had had 
only a piece of bread and a cup of thin 
coffee very early in the morning, before her 
long journey. Heidi said approvingly: “I 
think we might, grandfather!” 

“Let’s go down then, if we agree,” said 
the old man, and followed close behind her. 
Going up to the fireplace, he pushed the 
big kettle aside and reached for a smaller 
one that was suspended on a chain. Then 
sitting down on a three-legged stool, he 
kindled a bright fire. When the kettle was 
boiling, the old man put a large piece of 
cheese on a long iron fork, and held it over 
the fire, turning it to and fro, till it was 


HEIDI 


golden-brown on all sides. Heidi had watched 
him eagerly. Suddenly she ran to the cup¬ 
board. When her grandfather brought a 
pot and the toasted cheese to the table, he 
found it already nicely set with two plates and 
two knives and the bread in the middle. Heidi 
had seen the things in the cupboard and knew 
that they would be needed for the meal. 

“I am glad to see that you can think for 
yourself/’ said the grandfather, while he put 
the cheese on top of the bread, “but some¬ 
thing is missing yet.” 

Heidi saw the steaming pot and ran back 
to the cupboard in all haste. A single little 
bowl was on the shelf. That did not per¬ 
plex Heidi though, for she saw two glasses 
standing behind. With those three things 
she returned to the table. 

“You certainly can help yourself! Where 
shall you sit, though?” asked the grand¬ 
father, who occupied the only chair himself. 
Heidi flew to the hearth, and bringing back 
the little stool, sat down on it. 

“Now you have a seat, but it is much 


WITH THE GRANDFATHER 


too low. In fact, you are too little to reach 
the table from my chair. Now you shall 
have something to eat at last!” and with 
that the grandfather filled the little bowl 
with milk. Putting it on his chair, he pushed 
it as near to the stool as was possible, and 
in that way Heidi had a table before her. 
He commanded her to eat the large piece 
of bread and the slice of golden cheese. He 
sat down himself on a corner of the table 
and started his own dinner. Heidi drank 
without stopping, for she felt exceedingly 
thirsty after her long journey. Taking a 
long breath, she put down her little bowl. 

“How do you like the milk?” the grand¬ 
father asked her. 

“I never tasted better,” answered Heidi. 

“Then you shall have more,” and with 
that the grandfather filled the little bowl 
again. The little girl ate and drank with 
the greatest enjoyment. After she was 
through, both went out into the goat-shed. 
Here the old man busied himself, and Heidi 

watched him attentively while he was sweep- 
45 


HEIDI 


ing and putting down fresh straw for the 
goats to sleep on. Then he went to the 
little shop alongside and fashioned a high 
chair for Heidi, to the little girl’s greatest 
amazement. 

“What is this?” asked the grandfather. 

“ This is a chair for me. I am sure of it be¬ 
cause it is so high. How quickly it was made!” 
said the child, full of admiration and wonder. 

“She knows what is what and has her 
eyes on the right place,” the grandfather 
said to himself, while he walked around the 
hut, fastening a nail or a loose board here 
and there. He wandered about with his 
hammer and nails, repairing whatever was 
in need of fixing. Heidi followed him at 
every step and watched the performance 
with great enjoyment and attention. 

At last the evening came. The old fir- 
trees were rustling and a mighty wind was 
roaring and howling through the tree-tops. 
Those sounds thrilled Heidi’s heart and 
filled it with happiness and joy. She danced 
and jumped about under the trees, for those 

46 




WITH THE GRANDFATHER 


sounds made her feel as if a wonderful thing 
had happened to her. The grandfather 
stood under the door, watching her, when 
suddenly a shrill whistle was heard. Heidi 
stood still and the grandfather joined her 
outside. Down from the heights came one 
goat after another, with Peter in their midst. 
Uttering a cry of joy, Heidi ran into the 
middle of the flock, greeting her old friends. 
When they had all reached the hut, they 
stopped on their way and two beautiful 
slender goats came out of the herd, one of 
them white and the other brown. They 
came up to the grandfather, who held out some 
salt in his hands to them, as he did every night. 
Heidi tenderly caressed first one and then 
the other, seeming beside herself with joy. 

“Are they ours, grandfather? Do they 
both belong to us? Are they going to the 
stable? Are they going to stay with us?” 
Heidi kept on asking in her excitement. 
The grandfather hardly could put in a “yes, 
yes, surely” between her numerous questions. 
When the goats had licked up all the salt, 

47 



HEIDI 


the old man said, 44 Go in, Heidi, and fetch 
your bowl and the bread.” 

Heidi obeyed and returned instantly. The 
grandfather milked a full bowl from the 
white goat, cut a piece of bread for the 
child, and told her to eat. “Afterwards you 
can go to bed. If you need some shirts and 
other linen, you will find them in the bottom 
of the cupboard. Aunt Deta has left a bundle 
for you. Now good-night, I have to look after 
the goats and lock them up for the night.” 

“Good-night, grandfather! Oh, please tell 
me what their names are,” called Heidi 
after him. 

“The white one’s name is Schwanli and 
the brown one I call Barli,” was his answer. 

“ Good-night, Schwanli! Good-night, Barli,” 
the little girl called loudly, for they were 
just disappearing in the shed. Heidi now 
sat down on the bench and took her supper. 
The strong wind nearly blew her from her 
seat, so she hurried with her meal, to be able 
to go inside and up to her bed. She slept in 
it as well as a prince on his royal couch. 


WITH THE GRANDFATHER 


Very soon after Heidi had gone up, before 
it was quite dark, the old man also sought 
his bed. He was always up in the morning 
with the sun, which rose early over the 
mountain-side in those summer days. It 
was a wild, stormy night; the hut was shaking 
in the gusts and all the boards were creak¬ 
ing. The wind howled through the chimney 
and the old fir-trees shook so strongly that 
many a dry branch came crashing down. 
In the middle of the night the grandfather 
got up, saying to himself: “I am sure she 
is afraid.” Climbing up the ladder, he went 
up to Heidi’s bed. The first moment every¬ 
thing lay in darkness, when all of a sudden 
the moon came out behind the clouds and 
sent his brilliant light across Heidi’s bed. 
Her cheeks were burning red and she lay 
peacefully on her round and chubby arms. 
She must have had a happy dream, for she 
was smiling in her sleep. The grandfather 
stood and watched her till a cloud flew over the 
moon and left everything in total darkness. 
Then he went down to seek his bed again. 


ill 



ON THE PASTURE 

|EIDI was awakened early next 
morning by a loud whistle. 
Opening her eyes, she saw her 
little bed and the hay beside 
her bathed in golden sunlight. 
For a short while she did not know where 
she was, but when she heard her grand¬ 
father’s deep voice outside, she recollected 
everything. She remembered how she had 
come up the mountain the day before and 
left old Ursula, who was always shivering 
with cold and sat near the stove all day. 
While Heidi lived with Ursula, she had al¬ 
ways been obliged to keep in the house, 
where the old wonan could see her. Being 
deaf, Ursula was afraid to let Heidi go out¬ 
doors, and the child had often fretted in 
the narrow room and had longed to run out¬ 
side. She was therefore delighted to find her¬ 
self in her new home and hardly could wait 





ON THE PASTURE 

to see the goats again. Jumping out of bed, 
she put on her few things and in a short time 
went down the ladder and ran outside. 
Peter was already there with his flock, waiting 
for Schwanli and Barli, whom the grandfather 
was just bringing to join the other goats. 

“Do you want to go with him to the 
pasture?” asked the grandfather. 

“Yes,” cried Heidi, clapping her hands. 

“Go now, and wash yourself first, for the 
sun will laugh at you if he sees how dirty 
you are. Everything is ready there for you,” 
he added, pointing to a large tub of water 
that stood in the sun. Heidi did as she 
was told, and washed and rubbed herself 
till her cheeks were glowing. In the mean¬ 
while the grandfather called to Peter to 
come into the hut and bring his bag along. 
The boy followed the,old man, who com¬ 
manded him to open the bag in which 
he carried his scanty dinner. The grand¬ 
father put into the bag a piece of bread and a 
slice of cheese, that were easily twice as large 
as those the boy had in the bag himself. 



O 




* < v 



''.I 


HEIDI 







“The little bowl goes in, too,” said the 
Uncle, “for the child does not know how to 
drink straight from the goat, the way you 
do. She is going to stay with you all day, 
therefore milk two bowls full for her dinner. 
Look out that she does not fall over the 
rocks! Do you hear?” 

Just then Heidi came running in. “ Grand¬ 
father, can the sun still laugh at me?” she 
asked. The child had rubbed herself so 
violently with the coarse towel which the 
grandfather had put beside the tub that 
her face, neck and arms were as red as a 
lobster. With a smile the grandfather said: 
“No, he can’t laugh any more now; but when 
you come home to-night you must go into the 
tub like a fish. When one goes about like the 
goats, one gets dirty feet. Be off!” 

They started merrily up the x41p. A cloud¬ 
less, deep-blue sky looked down on them, 
for the wind had driven away every little 
cloud in the night. The fresh green moun¬ 
tain-side was bathed in brilliant sunlight, 
and many blue and yellow flowers had 




VL 


ON THE PASTURE 


opened. Heidi was wild with joy and ran 
from side to side. In one place she saw big 
patches of fine red primroses, on another 
spot blue gentians sparkled in the grass, 
and everywhere the golden rock-roses were 
nodding to her. In her transport at finding 
such treasures, Heidi even forgot Peter and 
his goats. She ran far ahead of him and then 
strayed away off to one side, for the sparkling 
flowers tempted her here and there. Picking 
whole bunches of them to take home with 
her, she put them all into her little 
apron. 

Peter, whose round eyes could only move 
about slowly, had a hard time looking out for 
her. The goats were even worse, and only by 
shouting and whistling, especially by swinging 
his rod, could he drive them together. 

“Heidi, where are you now?” he called 
quite angrily. 

“Here,” it sounded from somewhere. Peter 
could not see her,,.for she was sitting on the 
ground behind a little mound, which was 
covered with fragrant flowers. The whole 





HEIDI 




air was filled with their perfume, and the 
child drew it in, in long breaths. 

“Follow me now!” Peter called out. “The 
grandfather has told me to look out for you, 
and you must not fall over the rocks.” 

“Where are they?” asked Heidi without 
even stirring. 

“Way up there, and we have still far to 
go. If you come quickly, we may see the 
eagle there and hear him shriek.” 

That tempted Heidi, and she came running 
to Peter, with her apron full of flowers. 

“You have enough now,” he declared. 
“If you pick them all to-day, there won’t 
be any left to-morrow.” Heidi admitted 
that, besides which she had her apron al¬ 
ready full. From now on she stayed at 
Peter’s side. The goats, scenting the pungent 
herbs, also hurried up without delay. 

Peter generally took his quarters for the 
day at the foot of a high cliff, which seemed 
to reach far up into the sky. Overhanging 
rocks on one side made it dangerous, so 
that the grandfather was wise to warn Peter. 

54 







ON THE PASTURE 


After they had reached their destination, the 
boy took off his bag, putting it in a little 
hollow in the ground. The wind often blew in 
violent gusts up there, and Peter did not 
want to lose his precious load. Then he lay 
down in the sunny grass, for he was very tired. 

Heidi, taking off her apron, rolled it 
tightly together and put it beside Peter’s 
bag. Then, sitting down beside the boy, 
she looked about her. Far down she saw 
the glistening valley; a large field of snow 
rose high in front of her. Heidi sat a long 
time without stirring, with Peter asleep by 
her side and the goats climbing about be¬ 
tween the bushes. A light breeze fanned 
her cheek and those big mountains about 
her made her feel happy as never before. 
She looked up at the mountain-tops till 
they all seemed to have faces, and soon 
they were familiar to her, like old friends. 
Suddenly she heard a loud, sharp scream, and 
looking up she beheld the largest bird she had 
ever seen, flying above her. With outspread 
wings he flew in large circles over Heidi’s head. 


HEIDI 


“Wake up, Peter!” Heidi called. “Look 
up, Peter, and see the eagle there!” 

Peter got wide wake, and then they both 
watched the bird breathlessly. It rose higher 
and higher into the azure, till it disappeared 
at last behind the mountain-peak. 

“Where has it gone?” Heidi asked. 

“Home to its nest,” was Peter’s answer. 

“Oh, does it really live way up there? 
How wonderful that must be! But tell me 
why it screams so loud?” Heidi inquired. 

“Because it has to,” Peter replied. 

“Oh, let’s climb up there and see its nest!” 
implored Heidi, but Peter, expressing de¬ 
cided disapproval in his voice, answered: 
“Oh dear, Oh dear, not even goats could 
climb up there! Grandfather has told me not 
to let you fall down the rocks, so we can’t go!” 

Peter now began to call loudly and to 
whistle, and soon all the goats were as¬ 
sembled on the green field. Heidi ran into 
their midst, for she loved to see them leaping 
and playing about. 

Peter in the meantime was preparing din- 

56 




SHE HANDED HIM ALSO THE WHOLE SLICE OF CHEESE 









































ON THE PASTURE 


ner for Heidi and himself, by putting her 
large pieces on one side and his own small 
ones on the other. Then he milked Barli 
and put the full bowl in the middle. When he 
was ready, he called to the little girl. But 
it took some time before she obeyed his call. 

“Stop jumping, now,” said Peter, “and 
sit down; your dinner is ready.” 

“Is this milk for me?” she inquired. 

“Yes it is; those large pieces also belong 
to you. When you are through with the 
milk, I’ll get you some more. After that 
I’ll get mine.” 

“What milk do you get?” Heidi inquired. 

“I get it from my own goat, that speckled 
one over there. But go ahead and eat!” 
Peter commanded again. Heidi obeyed, and 
when the bowl was empty, he filled it again. 
Breaking off a piece of bread for herself, 
she gave Peter the rest, which was still bigger 
than his own portion had been. She handed 
him also the whole slice of cheese, saying: 
“You can eat that, I have had enough!” 

Peter was speechless with surprise, for it 


4 & 


HEIDI 



4 i>\ 


would have been impossible for him ever to 
give up any of his share. Not taking Heidi 
in earnest, he hesitated till she put the 
things on his knees. Then he saw she really 
meant it, and he seized his prize. Nodding 
his thanks to her, he ate the most luxurious 
meal he had ever had in all his life. Heidi 
was watching the goats in the meantime, and 
asked Peter for their names. 

The boy could tell them all to her, for 
their names were about the only thing he 
had to carry in his head. She soon knew 
them, too, for she had listened attentively. 
One of them was the Big Turk, who tried 
to stick his big horns into all the others. 
Most of the goats ran away from their rough 
comrade. The bold Thistlefinch alone was 
not afraid, and running his horns three or 
four times into the other, so astonished the 
Turk with his great daring that he stood 
still and gave up fighting, for the Thistle- 
finch had sharp horns and met him in the 
most warlike attitude. A small, white goat, 
called Snowhopper, kept up bleating in the 

58 



ON THE PASTURE 

most piteous way, which induced Heidi to 
console it several times. Heidi at last went 
to the little thing again, and throwing her 
arms around its head, she asked, “What 
is the matter with you, Snowhopper? Why 
do you always cry for help?’’ The little 
goat pressed close to Heidi’s side and became 
perfectly quiet. Peter was still eating, but 
between the swallows he called to Heidi: 
“She is so unhappy, because the old goat 
has left us. She was sold to somebody in 
Mayenfeld two days ago.” 

“Who was the old goat?” 

“Her mother, of course.” 

“Where is her grandmother?” 

“She hasn’t any.” 

“And her grandfather?” 

“Hasn’t any either.” 

“Poor little Snowhopper!” said Heidi, 
drawing the little creature tenderly to her. 
“Don’t grieve any more; see, I am coming 
up with you every day now, and if there is 
anything the matter, you can come to me.” 

Snowhopper rubbed her head against 



v»a* 


Ai ' 





vMi' * 




• . V k ft 4 #W 

* *0 






HEIDI 


Heidi’s shoulder and stopped bleating. When 
Peter had finally finished his dinner, he joined 
Heidi. 

The little girl had just been observing 
that Schwanli and Barli were by far the 
cleanest and prettiest of the goats. They 
evaded the obtrusive Turk with a sort of 
contempt and always managed to find the 
greenest bushes for themselves. She men¬ 
tioned it to Peter, who replied: “I know! 
Of course they are the prettiest, because the 
uncle washes them and gives them salt. He 
has the best stable by far.” 

All of a sudden Peter, who had been lying 
on the ground, jumped up and bounded after 
the goats. Heidi, knowing that something 
must have happened, followed him. She 
saw him running to a dangerous abyss on 
the side. Peter had noticed how the rash 
Thistlefinch had gone nearer and nearer to 
the dangerous spot. Peter only just came 
in time to prevent the goat from falling down 
over the very edge. Unfortunately Peter 
had stumbled over a stone in his hurry and 


ON THE PASTURE 


was only able to catch the goat by one 
leg. The Thistlefinch, being enraged to find 
himself stopped in his charming ramble, 
bleated furiously. Not being able to get up, 
Peter loudly called for help. Heidi imme¬ 
diately saw that Peter was nearly pulling off 
the animal’s leg. She quickly picked some 
fragrant herbs and holding them under the 
animal’s nose, she said soothingly: “Come, 
come, Thistlefinch, and be sensible. You 
might fall down there and break your leg. 
That would hurt you horribly.” 

The goat turned about and devoured the 
herbs Heidi held in her hand. When Peter 
got to his feet, he led back the runaway with 
Heidi’s help. When he had the goat in safety, 
he raised his rod to beat it for punishment. 
The goat retreated shyly, for it knew what was 
coming. Heidi screamed loudly: “Peter, no, 
do not beat him! look how scared he is.” 

“He well deserves it,” snarled Peter, ready 
to strike. But Heidi, seizing his arm, shouted, 
full of indignation: “You mustn’t hurt him! 
Let him go!” 



HEIDI 




Heidi’s eyes were sparkling, and when he 
saw her with her commanding mien, he 
desisted and dropped his rope. “I’ll let him 
go, if you give me a piece of your cheese 
again to-morrow,” he said, for he wanted 
a compensation for his fright. 

“You may have it all to-morrow and 
every day, because I don’t need it,” Heidi 
assured him. “I shall also give you a big 
piece of bread, if you promise never to 
beat any of the goats.” 

“I don't care,” growled Peter, and in that 
way he gave his promise. 

Thus the day had passed, and the sun was 
already sinking down behind the mountains. 
Sitting on the grass, Heidi looked at the blue¬ 
bells and the wild roses that were shining 
in the last rays of the sun. The peaks also 
started to glow, and Heidi suddenly called 
to the boy: “Oh, Peter, look! everything is 
on fire. The mountains are burning and the 
sky, too. Oh, look! the moon over there is on 
fire, too. Do you see the mountains all in 

a glow? Oh, how beautiful the snow looks! 

62 



ON THE PASTURE 


Peter, the eagle’s nest is surely on fire, too. 
Oh, look at the fir-trees over there!” 

Peter was quietly peeling his rod, and 
looking up, said to Heidi: “This is no fire; 
it always looks like that.” 

“But what is it then?” asked Heidi eagerly, 
gazing about her everywhere. 

“ It gets that way of itself,” explained Peter. 

“Oh look! Everything is all rosy now! 
Oh, look at this mountain over there with 
the snow and the sharp peaks. What is 
its name?” 

“Mountains have no names,” he answered. 

“Oh, see, how beautiful! It looks as if 
many, many roses were growing on those 
cliffs. Oh, now they are getting grey. Oh 
dear! the fire has gone out and it is all over. 
What a terrible shame!” said Heidi quite 
despondently. 

“It will be the same again tomorrow,” 
Peter reassured her. “Come now, we have 
to go home.’ 

When Peter had called the goats together, 
they started downwards. 

63 



HEIDI 


“Will it be like that every day when we 
are up?” asked Heidi, eagerly. 

“It usually is,” was the reply. 

“What about tomorrow?” she inquired. 

“Tomorrow it will be like that, I am sure,” 
Peter affirmed. 

That made Heidi feel happy again. She 
walked quietly by Peter’s side, thinking over 
all the new things she had seen. At last, 
reaching the hut, they found the grand¬ 
father waiting for them on a bench under 
the fir-trees. Heidi ran up to him and the 
two goats followed, for they knew their mas¬ 
ter. Peter called to her: “Come again to¬ 
morrow! Good-night!” 

Heidi gave h m her hand, assuring him 
that she would come, and finding herself 
surrounded by the goats, she hugged Snow- 
hopper a last time. 

When Peter had disappeared, Heidi re¬ 
turned to her grandfather. “Oh grand¬ 
father! it was so beautiful! I saw the fire 
and the roses on the rocks! And see the 
many, many flowers I am bringing you!” 

64 





ON THE PASTURE 


With that Heidi shook them out of her apron. 
But oh, how miserable they looked! Heidi 
did not even know them any more. 

“What is the matter with them, grand¬ 
father? They looked so different!” Heidi 
exclaimed in her fright. 

“They are made to bloom in the sun and 
not to be shut up in an apron,” said the 
grandfather. 

“Then I shall never pick them any more! 
Please, grandfather, tell me why the eagle 
screeches so loudly,” asked Heidi. 

“First go and take a bath, while I go 
into the shed to get your milk. Afterwards 
we’ll go inside together and I’ll tell you all 
about it during supper-time.” 

They did as was proposed, and when 
Heidi sat on her high chair before her milk, 
she asked the same question as before. 

“Because he is sneering at the people 
down below, who sit in the villages and 
make each other angry. He calls down to 
them:—Tf you would go apart to live up 
on the heights like me, you would feel much 
5 65 







HEIDI 


better!’ ” The grandfather said these last 
words with such a wild voice, that it re¬ 
minded Heidi of the eagle’s screech. 

“Why do the mountains have no names, 
grandfather ?” asked Heidi. 

“They all have names, and if you tell me 
their shape I can name them for you.” 

Heidi described several and the old man 
could name them all. The child told him 
now about all the happenings of the day, 
and especially about the wonderful fire. She 
asked how it came about. 

“The sun does it,” he exclaimed. “Say¬ 
ing good-night to the mountains, he throws 
his most beautiful rays to them, that they 
may not forget him till the morning.” 

Heidi was so much pleased with this ex¬ 
planation, that she could hardly wait to see 
the sun’s good-night greetings repeated. It 
was time now to go to bed, and Heidi slept 
soundly all night. She dreamt that the 
little Snowhopper was bounding happily 
about on the glowing mountains with many 
glistening roses blooming round her. 

6G 



IV 

IN THE GRANDMOTHER’S HUT 

EXT morning Peter came again 
with his goats, and Heidi went 
up to the pasture with them. 
This happened day after day, 
and in this healthy life Heidi 
grew stronger, and more sunburnt every day. 
Soon the autumn came and when the wind 
was blowing across the mountainside, the 
grandfather would say: “You must stay 
home to-day, Heidi; for the wind can blow 
such a little thing as you down into the val¬ 
ley with a single gust.” 

It always made Peter unhappy when Heidi 
did not come along, for he saw nothing but 
misfortunes ahead of him; he hardly knew 
how to pass his time, and besides, he was 
deprived of his abundant dinner. The goats 
were so accustomed to Heidi by this time, 
that they did not follow Peter when she was 
not with him. 

67 

















HEIDI 


Heidi herself did not mind staying at 
home, for she loved nothing better than to 
watch her grandfather with his saw and 
hammer. Sometimes the grandfather would 
make small round cheeses on those days, 
and there was no greater pleasure for Heidi 
than to see him stir the butter with his bare 
arms. When the wind would howl through 
the fir-trees on those stormy days, Heidi 
would run out to the grove, thrilled and 
happy by the wondrous roaring in the 
branches. The sun had lost its vigor, and 
the child had to put on her shoes and stock¬ 
ings and her little dress. 

The weather got colder and colder, and 
when Peter came up in the morning, he 
would blow into his hands, he was so frozen. 
At last even Peter could not come any more, 
for a deep snow had fallen over night. Heidi 
stood at the window, watching the snow fall¬ 
ing down. It kept on snowing till it reached 
the windows; still it did not stop, and soon the 
windows could not be opened, and they were 

all shut in. When it had lasted for several 

68 


IN THE GRANDMOTHER S HUT 


days, Heidi thought that it would soon cover 
up the cottage. It finally stopped, and the 
grandfather went out to shovel the snow 
away from the door and windows, piling it 
up high here and there. In the afternoon 
the two were sitting near the fire when 
noisy steps were heard outside and the door 
was pushed open. It was Peter, who had 
come up to see Heidi. Muttering, “Good- 
evening/’ he went up to the fire. His face 
was beaming, and Heidi had to laugh when 
she saw little waterfalls trickling down from 
his person, for all the ice and snow had melted 
in the great heat. 

The grandfather now asked Peter how he 
got along in school. Heidi was so inter¬ 
ested that she asked him a hundred ques¬ 
tions. Poor Peter, who was not an easy 
talker, found himself in great difficulty an¬ 
swering the little girl’s inquiries, but at 
least it gave him leisure to dry his clothes. 

During this conversation the grandfather’s 
eyes had been twinkling, and at last he said 
to the boy: “ Now that you have been under 

69 


HEIDI 




fire, general, you need some strengthening. 
Come and join us at supper.” 

With that the old man prepared a meal 
which amply satisfied Peter’s appetite. It 
had begun to get dark, and Peter knew that 
it was time to go. He had said good-bye 
and thank you, when turning to Heidi he 
remarked: 

“I’ll come next Sunday, if I may. By the 
way, Heidi, grandmother asked me to tell 
you that she would love to see you.” 

Heidi immediately approved of this idea, 
and her first word next morning was: “ Grand¬ 
father, I must go down to grandmother. She 
is expecting me.” 

Four days later the sun was shining and 
the tight-packed frozen snow was crackling 
under every step. Heidi was sitting at the 
dinner-table, imploring the old man to let 
her make the visit then, when he got up, 
and fetching down her heavy cover, told her 
to follow him. They went out into the glisten¬ 
ing snow; no sound was heard and the snow¬ 
laden fir-trees shone and glittered in the 

70 






OFF THEY STARTED AT SUCH A PACE THAT HEII)I SHOUTED FOR JOY 

















IN THE GRANDMOTHER’S HUT 


sun. Heidi in her transport was running to 
and fro: “Grandfather, come out! Oh, look 
at the trees! They are all covered with sil¬ 
ver and gold,” she called to the grandfather, 
who had just come out of his workshop 
with a wide sled. Wrapping the child up in 
her cover, he put her on the sled, holding her 
fast. Off they started at such a pace that 
Heidi shouted for joy, for she seemed to be 
flying like a bird. The sled had stopped in 
front of Peter’s hut, and grandfather said: 
“Go in. When it gets dark, start on your 
way home.” When he had unwrapped her, 
he turned homewards with his sled. 

Opening the door, Heidi found herself in 
a tiny, dark kitchen, and going through an¬ 
other door, she entered a narrow chamber. 
Near a table a woman was seated, busy with 
mending Peter’s coat, which Heidi had recog¬ 
nized immediately. A bent old woman was 
sitting in a corner, and Heidi, approaching 
her at once, said: “How do you do, grand¬ 
mother? I have come now, and I hope I 
haven’t kept you waiting too long!” 


HEIDI 


Lifting her head, the grandmother sought 
for Heidi’s hand. Feeling it thoughtfully, 
she said: 4 'Are you the little girl who lives 
up with the uncle? Is your name Heidi?” 

44 Yes,” Heidi replied. “The grandfather 
just brought me down in the sled.” 

44 How is it possible? Your hands are as 
warm as toast! Brigida, did the uncle really 
come down with the child?” 

Brigida, Peter’s mother, had gotten up to 
look at the child. She said: 44 1 don’t know 
if he did, but I don’t think so. She probably 
doesn’t know.” 

Heidi, looking up, said quite decidedly: 
44 1 know that grandfather wrapped me up 
in a cover when we coasted down together.” 

44 Peter was right after all,” said the grand¬ 
mother. 44 We never thought the child would 
live more than three weeks with him. Bri- 
gida, tell me what she looks like.” 

“She has Adelheid’s fine limbs and black 
eyes, and curly hair like Tobias and the old 
man. I think she looks like both of them.” 

While the women were talking, Heidi had 



IN THE GRANDMOTHER’S HUT 


been taking in everything. Then she said: 
“Grandmother, look at the shutter over 
there. It is hanging loose. If grandfather 
were here, he would fasten it. It will break 
the window-pane! Just look at it.” 

“What a sweet child you are,” said the 
grandmother tenderly. “I can hear it, but 
I cannot see it, child. This cottage rattles 
and creaks, and when the wind blows, it 
comes in through every chink. Some day the 
whole house will break to pieces and fall on 
top of us. If only Peter knew how to mend 
it! We have no one else.” 

“Why, grandmother, can’t you see the 
shutter?” asked Heidi. 

“Child, I cannot see anything,” lamented 
the old woman. 

“Can you see it when I open the shutter 
to let in the light?” 

“No, no, not even then. Nobody can 
ever show me the light again.” 

“But you can see when you go out into 
the snow, where everything is bright. Come 
with me, grandmother, I’ll show you!” and 

73 










HEIDI 







R*idi, taking the old woman by the hand, 
tried to lead her out. Heidi was frightened 
and got more anxious all the time. 

“Just let me stay here, child. Everything 
is dark for me, and my poor eyes can neither 
see the snow nor the light/’ 

“But grandmother, does it not get light 
in the summer, when the sun shines down 
on the mountains to say good-night, setting 
them all aflame?” 

“No, child, I can never see the fiery moun¬ 
tains any more. I have to live in darkness, 
always.” 

Heidi burst out crying now and sobbed 
aloud. “Can nobody make it light for you? 
Is there nobody who can do it, grandmother? 
Nobody?” 

The grandmother tried all possible means 
to comfort the child; it wrung her heart to 
see her terrible distress. It was awfully hard 
for Heidi to stop crying when she had once 
begun, for she cried so seldom. The grand¬ 
mother said: “Heidi, let me tell you some¬ 
thing. People who cannot see love to listen 

74 




IN THE GRANDMOTHER S HUT 


to friendly words Sit down beside me and 
tell me all about yourself. Talk to me about 
your grandfather, for it has been long since 
I have heard anything about him. I used 
to know him very welL ,, 

Heidi suddenly wiped away her tears, for 
she had had a cheering thought. “Grand¬ 
mother, I shall tell grandfather about it, 
and I am sure he can make it light for you. 
He can mend your little house and stop the 
rattling.” 

The old woman remained silent, and Heidi, 
with the greatest vivacity, began to describe 
her life with the grandfather. Listening at¬ 
tentively, the two women would say to each 
other sometimes: “Do you hear what she 
says about the uncle? Did you listen?” 

Heidi’s tale was interrupted suddenly by 
a great thumping on the door; and who 
should come in but Peter. No sooner had 
he seen Heidi, than he smiled, opening his 
round eyes as wide as possible. Heidi called, 
“Good-evening, Peter!” 

“Is it really time for him to come home!” 



li 







1 


•V 4 

• HA 


* 36 * 


HEIDI 


exclaimed Peter’s grandmother. “How 
quickly the time has flown. Good-evening, 
little Peter; how is your reading going?” 

“Just the same,” the boy replied. 

“Oh, dear, I was hoping for a change at 
last. You are nearly twelve years old, my 
boy.” 

“Why should there be a change?” inquired 
Heidi with greatest interest. 

“I am afraid he’ll never learn it after all. 
On the shelf over there is an old prayer- 
book with beautiful songs. I have forgotten 
them all, for I do not hear them any more. 
I longed that Peter should read them to 
me some day, but he will never be able to!” 

Peter’s mother got up from her work now, 
saying, “I must make a light. The afternoon 
has passed and now it’s getting dark.” 

When Heidi heard those words, she started, 
and holding out her hand to all, she said: 
“Good-night. I have to go, for it is getting 
dark.” But the anxious grandmother called 
out: “Wait, child, don’t go up alone! Go 
with her, Peter, and take care that she does 



IN THE GRANDMOTHER S HUT 


not fall. Don’t let her get cold, do you hear? 
Has Heidi a shawl?” 

“I haven’t, but I won’t be cold,” Heidi 
called back, for she had already escaped 
through the door. She ran so fast that Peter 
could hardly follow her. The old woman 
frettingly called out: “Brigida, run after her. 
Get a warm shawl, she’ll freeze in this cold 
night. Hurry up!” Brigida obeyed. The 
children had hardly climbed any distance, 
when they saw the old man coming and with 
a few vigorous steps he stood beside them. 

“I am glad you kept you word, Heidi,” 
he said; and packing her into her cover, he 
started up the hill, carrying the child in his 
arms. Brigida had come in time to see it, 
and told the grandmother what she had wit¬ 
nessed. 

“Thank God, thank God!” the old woman 
said. “I hope she’ll come again; she has 
done me so much good! What a soft heart 
she has, the darling, and how nicely she can 
talk.” All evening the grandmother said 
to herself, “If only he lets her come again! 


HEIDI 


I have something to look forward to in this 
world now, thank God!” 

Heidi could hardly wait before they 
reached the cottage. She had tried to talk 
on the way, but no sound could be heard 
through the heavy cover. As soon as they 
were inside the hut she began: “Grand¬ 
father, we must take some nails and a ham¬ 
mer down tomorrow; a shutter is loose in 
grandmother’s house and many other places 
shake. Everything rattles in her house.” 

“Is that so? Who says we must?” 

“Nobody told me, but I know,” Heidi 
replied. “Everything is loose in the house, 
and poor grandmother told me she was 
afraid that the house might tumble down. 
And grandfather, she cannot see the light. 
Can you help her and make it light for her? 
How terrible it must be to be afraid in the 
dark and nobody there to help you! Oh, 
please, grandfather, do something to help 
her! I know you can.” 

Heidi had been clinging to her grandfather 
and looking up to him with trusting eyes. 

78 


Jrr 


IN THE GRANDMOTHER’S HUT 




At last he said, glancing down: “All right, 
child, we’ll see that it won’t rattle any more. 
We can do it tomorrow.” 

Heidi was so overjoyed at these words 
that she danced around the room shouting: 
“We’ll do it tomorrow! We can do it to¬ 
morrow!” 

The grandfather, keeping his word, took 
Heidi down the following day with the same 
instructions as before. After Heidi had dis¬ 
appeared, he went around the house inspect¬ 
ing it. 

The grandmother, in her joy at seeing 
the child again, had stopped the wheel and 
called: “Here is the child again! She has 
come again!” Heidi, grasping her out¬ 
stretched hands, sat herself on a low stool at 
the old woman’s feet and began to chat. 
Suddenly violent blows were heard outside; 
the grandmother in her fright nearly upset 
the spinning-wheel and screamed: “Oh, God, 
it has come at last. The hut is tumbling 
down!” 

“Grandmother, don’t be frightened,” said 



^,-7 



HEIDI 


the child, while she put her arms around her. 
“Grandfather is just fastening the shutter 
and fixing everything for you.” 

“Is it possible? Has God not forgotten 
us after all? Brigida, have you heard it? 
Surely that is a hammer. Ask him to come 
in a moment, if it is he, for I must thank 
him.” 

When Brigida went out, she found the old 
man busy with putting a new beam along the 
wall. Approaching him, she said: “Mother 
and I wish you a good-afternoon. We are 
very much obliged to you for doing us such 
a service, and mother would like to see you. 
There are few that would have done it, 
uncle, and how can we thank you?” 

“That will do,” he interrupted. “I know 
what your opinion about me is. Go in, for 
I can find what needs mending myself.” 

Brigida obeyed, for the uncle had a way 
that nobody could oppose. All afternoon 
the uncle hammered around; he even climbed 
up on the roof, where much was missing. At 

last he had to stop, for the last nail was gone 
80 



IN THE GRANDMOTHER S HUT 


from his pocket. The darkness had come 
in the meantime, and Heidi was ready to 
go up with him, packed warmly in his arms. 

Thus the winter passed. Sunshine had 
come again into the blind woman’s life, and 
made her days less dark and dreary. Early 
every morning she would begin to listen for 
Heidi’s footsteps, and when the door was 
opened and the child ran in, the grandmother 
exclaimed every time more joyfully: “Thank 
God, she has come again!” 

Heidi would talk about her life, and make 
the grandmother smile and laugh, and in 
that way the hours flew by. In former times 
the old woman had always sighed: “Brigida, 
is the day not over yet?” but now she always 
exclaimed after Heidi’s departure: “How 
quickly the afternoon has gone by. Don’t 
you think so, too, Brigida?” Her daughter 
had to assent, for Heidi had long ago won 
her heart. “If only God will spare us the 
child!” the grandmother would often say. 
“I hope the uncle will always be kind, as he 

is now.”— “Does Heidi look well, Brigida?” 

81 



& 


HEIDI 

was a frequent question, which always got 
a reassuring answer. 

Heidi also became very fond of the old 
grandmother, and when the weather was fair, 
she visited her every day that winter. When¬ 
ever the child remembered that the grand¬ 
mother was blind, she would get very sad; 
her only comfort was that her coming brought 
such happiness. The grandfather soon had 
mended the cottage; often he would take 
down big loads of timber, which he used to 
good purpose. The grandmother vowed that 
no rattling could be heard any more, and 
that, thanks to the uncle’s kindness, she 
slept better that winter than she had done 
for many a year. 






TWO VISITORS 



WO winters had nearly passed. 
Heidi was happy, for the 
spring was coming again, with 
the soft delicious wind that 
made the fir-trees roar. Soon 


she would be able to go up to the pasture, 
where blue and yellow flowers greeted her 
at every step. She was nearly eight years 
old, and had learned to take care of the 
goats, who ran after her like little dogs. 
Several times the village teacher had sent 
word by Peter that the child was wanted in 
school, but the old man had not paid any 
attention to the message and had kept her 
with him as before. It was a beautiful morn¬ 
ing in March. The snow had melted on the 
slopes, and was going fast. Snowdrops were 
peeping through the ground, which seemed 
to be getting ready for spring. Heidi was 





O’ 


$1 


♦ ^ 



v.u. ^ •»* 

l>*\, .«+ 4 




4 





HEIDI 


running to and fro before the door, when 
she suddenly saw an old gentleman, dressed in 
black, standing beside her. As she appeared 
frightened, he said kindly: “You must not 
be afraid of me, for I love children. Give 
me your hand, Heidi, and tell me where 
your grandfather is.” 

“He is inside, making round wooden 
spoons,” the child replied, opening the door 
while she spoke. 

It was the old pastor of the village, who 
had known the grandfather years ago. After 
entering, he approached the old man, say¬ 
ing: “Good-morning, neighbor.” 

The old man got up, surprised, and offer¬ 
ing a seat to the visitor, said: “Good-morn¬ 
ing, Mr. Parson. Here is a wooden chair, 
if it is good enough.” 

Sitting down, the parson said: “It is long 
since I have seen you, neighbor. I have 
come to-day to talk over a matter with you. 
I am sure you can guess what it is about.” 

The clergyman here looked at Heidi, who 
was standing near the door. 



TWO VISITORS 


“Heidi, run out to see the goats,” said 
the grandfather, “and bring them some salt; 
you can stay till I come.” 

Heidi disappeared on the spot. “The 
child should have come to school a year ago,” 
the parson went on to say. “Didn’t you 
get the teacher’s warning? What do you 
intend to do with the child?” 

“I do not want her to go to school,” said 
the old man, unrelentingly. 

“What do you want the child to be?” 

“I want her to be free and happy as a 
bird!” 

“But she is human, and it is high time for 
her to learn something. I have come now 
to tell you about it, so that you can make 
your plans. She must come to school next 
winter; remember that.” 

“I shan’t do it, pastor!” was the reply. 

“Do you think there is no way?” the 
clergyman replied, a little hotly. “You know 
the world, for you have travelled far. What 
little sense you show!” 

“You think I am going to send this delicate 


HEIDI 






child to school in every storm and weather!” 
the old man said excitedly. “It is a two 
hours’ walk, and I shall not let her go; for 
the wind often howls so that it chokes me 
if I venture out. Did you know Adelheid, 
her mother? She was a sleep-walker, and 
had fainting-fits. Nobody shall compel me 
to let her go; I will gladly fight it out in 
court.” 

“You are perfectly right,” said the clergy¬ 
man kindly. “You could not send her to 
school from here. Why don’t you come down 
to live among us again? You are leading 
a strange life here; I wonder how you can 
keep the child warm in winter.” 

“She has young blood and a good cover. 
I know where to find good wood, and all 
winter I keep a fire going. I couldn’t live in 
the village, for the people there and I despise 
each other; we had better keep apart.” 

“You are mistaken, I assure you! Make 
your peace with God, and then you’ll see 
how happy you will be.” 

The clergyman had risen, and holding out 
86 



TWO VISITORS 


his hand, he said cordially: “I shall count 
on you next winter, neighbor. We shall 
receive you gladly, reconciled with God and 
man.” 

But the uncle replied firmly, while he 
shook his visitor by the hand: “Thank you 
for your kindness, but you will have to wait 
in vain.” 

“God be with you,” said the parson, and 
left him sadly. 

The old man was out of humor that day, 
and when Heidi begged to go to the grand¬ 
mother, he only growled: “Not to-day.” 
Next day they had hardly finished their 
dinner, when another visitor arrived. It was 
Heidi’s aunt Deta; she wore a hat with 
feathers and a dress with such a train that 
it swept up everything that lay on the cottage 
floor. While the uncle looked at her silently, 
Deta began to praise him and the child’s 
red cheeks. She told him that it had not 
been her intention to leave Heidi with him 
long, for she knew she must be in his way. 
She had tried to provide for the child else- 

87 


HEIDI 


where, and at last she had found a splendid 
chance for her. Very rich relations of her 
lady, who owned the largest house in Frank¬ 
furt, had a lame daughter. This poor little 
girl was confined to her rolling-chair and 
needed a companion at her lessons. Deta 
had heard from her lady that a sweet, quaint 
child was wanted as playmate and school¬ 
mate for the invalid. She had gone to the 
housekeeper and told her all about Heidi. 
The lady, delighted with the idea, had told 
her to fetch the child at once. She had come 
now, and it was a lucky chance for Heidi, 
for one never knew what might happen in 
such a case, and who could tell—” 

“Have you finished?” the old man in¬ 
terrupted her at last. 

“Why, one might think I was telling you 
the silliest things. There is not a man in 
Pratiggan who would not thank God for 
such news.” 

“Bring them to somebody else, but not 
to me,” said the uncle, coldly. 

Deta, flaming up, replied: “Do you want 

88 




TWO VISITORS 


to hear what I think? Don’t I know how 
old she is; eight years old and ignorant of 
everything. They have told me that you 
refuse to send her to church and to school. 
She is my only sister’s child, and I shall not 
bear it, for I am responsible. You do not 
care for her, how else could you be indif¬ 
ferent to such luck. You had better give 
way or I shall get the people to back me. 
If I were you, I would not have it brought 
to court; some things might be warmed up 
that you would not care to hear about.” 

“Be quiet!” the uncle thundered with 
flaming eyes. “Take her and ruin her, but 
do not bring her before my sight again. I 
do not want to see her with feathers in her 
hat and wicked words like yours.” 

With long strides he went out. 

“You have made him angry!” said Heidi 
with a furious look. 

“He won’t be cross long. But come now, 
where are your things?” asked Deta. 

“I won’t come,” Heidi replied. 

“What?” Deta said passionately. 

89 





k 


But 


HEIDI 


changing her tone, she continued in a more 
friendly manner: “Come now; you don’t 
understand me. I am taking you to the 
most beautiful place you have ever seen.” 
After packing up Heidi’s clothes she said 
again, “ Come, child, and take your hat. 
It is not very nice, but we can’t help it.” 

“I shall not come,” was the reply. 

“Don’t be stupid and obstinate, like a 
goat. Listen to me. Grandfather is send¬ 
ing us away and we must do what he com¬ 
mands, or he will get more angry still. 
You’ll see how fine it is in Frankfurt. If 
you do not like it, you can come home again 
and by that time grandfather will have for¬ 
given us.” 

“Can I come home again to-night?” asked 
Heidi. 

“Come now, I told you you could come 
back. If we get to Mayenfeld today, we 
can take the train to-morrow. That will 
make you fly home again in the shortest 
time!” 

Holding the bundle, Deta led the child 


TWO VISITORS 


down the mountain. On their way they met 
Peter, who had not gone to school that day. 
The boy thought it was a more useful oc¬ 
cupation to look for hazel-rods than to learn 
to read, for he always needed the rods. He 
had had a most successful day, for he carried 
an enormous bundle on his shoulder. When 
he caught sight of Heidi and Deta, he asked 
them where they were going. 

“I am going to Frankfurt with Aunt Deta,’* 
Heidi replied; “but first I must see grand¬ 
mother, for she is waiting.” 

“Oh no, it is too late. You can see her 
when you come back, but not now,” said 
Deta, pulling Heidi along with her, for she 
was afraid that the old woman might detain 
the child. 

Peter ran into the cottage and hit the 
table with his rods. The grandmother 
jumped up in her fright and asked him 
what that meant. 

“They have taken Heidi away,” Peter said 
with a groan. 

“Who has, Peter? Where has she gone?” 



* / 

t 




\ 



HEIDI 


the unhappy grandmother asked. Brigida 
had seen Deta walking up the footpath a 
short while ago and soon they guessed what 
had happened. With a trembling hand the 
old woman opened a window and called out 
as loudly as she could: “Deta, Deta, don’t 
take the child away. Don’t take her from us.” 

When Heidi heard that she struggled to 
get free, and said: “I must go to grand¬ 
mother; she is calling me.” 

But Deta would not let her go. She urged 
her on by saying that she might return soon 
again. She also suggested that Heidi might 
bring a lovely present to the grandmother 
when she came back. 

Heidi liked this prospect and followed Deta 
without more ado. After a while she asked: 
“What shall I bring to the grandmother’?’ 

“You might bring her some soft white 
rolls, Heidi. I think the black bread is too 
hard for poor grandmother to eat.” 

“Yes, I know, aunt, she always gives it 
to Peter,” Heidi confirmed her. “We must 
go quickly now; we might get to Frankfurt 

92 





WHEN HEIDI HEARD THAT SHE STRUGGLED TO GET FREE 














TWO VISITORS 


today and then I can be back tomorrow 
with the rolls.” 

Heidi was running now, and Deta had 
to follow. She was glad enough to escape 
the questions that people might ask her in 
the village. People could see that Heidi was 
pulling her along, so she said: “I can’t stop. 
Don’t you see how the child is hurrying? 
We have still far to go,” whenever she heard 
from all sides: “Are you taking her with 
you?” “Is she running away from the 
uncle?” “What a wonder she is still alive!” 
“What red cheeks she has,” and so on. Soon 
they had escaped and had left the village far 
behind them. 

From that time on the uncle looked more 
angry than ever when he came to the village. 
Everybody was afraid of him, and the women 
would warn their children to keep out of 
his sight. 

He came down but seldom, and then only 
to sell his cheese and buy his provisions. 
Often people remarked how lucky it was 
that Heidi had left him. They had seen 





HEIDI 


her hurrying away, so they thought that 
she had been glad to go. 

The old grandmother alone stuck to him 
faithfully. Whenever anybody came up to 
her, she would tell them what good care 
the old man had taken of Heidi. She also 
told them that he had mended her little 
house. These reports reached the village, 
of course, but people only half believed them, 
for the grandmother was infirm and old. 
She began her days with sighing again. “All 
happiness has left us with the child. The 
days are so long and dreary, and I have 
no joy left. If only I could hear Heidi’s 
voice before I die,” the poor old woman 
would exclaim, day after day. 







VI 

A NEW CHAPTER WITH NEW 
THINGS 


N a beautiful house in Frank¬ 
furt lived a sick child by the 
name of Clara Sesemann. She 
was sitting in a comfortable 
rolling-chair, which could be 
pushed from room to room. Clara spent most 
of her time in the study, where long rows of 
bookcases lined the walls. This room was 
used as a living-room, and here she was also 
given her lessons. 

Clara had a pale, thin face with soft blue 
eyes, which at that moment were watching 
the clock impatiently. At last she said: “Oh 
Miss Rottenmeier, isn’t it time yet?” 

The lady so addressed was the house¬ 
keeper, who had lived with Clara since Mrs. 
Sesemann’s death. Miss Rottenmeier wore 
a peculiar uniform with a long cape, and a 
high cap on her head. Clara’s father, who 

95 






HEIDI 





was away from home a great deal, left the 
entire management of the house to this lady, 
on the condition that his daughter’s wishes 
should always be considered. 

While Clara was waiting, Deta had ar¬ 
rived at the front door with Heidi. She 
was asking the coachman who had brought 
her if she could go upstairs. 

“That’s not my business,” grumbled the 
coachman; “you must ring for the butler.” 

Sebastian, the butler, a man with large 
brass buttons on his coat, soon stood before 
her. 

“May I see Miss Rottenmeier?” Deta 
asked. 

“That’s not my business,” the butler an¬ 
nounced. “Ring for Tinette, the maid.” 
With that, he disappeared. 

Deta, ringing again, saw a girl with a bril¬ 
liant white cap on her head, coming down the 
stairway. The maid stopped half-way down 
and asked scornfully: “What do you want?” 

Deta repeated her wish again. Tinette 
told her to wait while she went upstairs. 


A NEW CHAPTER 


but it did not take long before the two were 
asked to come up. 

Following the maid, they found themselves 
in the study. Deta held on to Heidi’s hand 
and stayed near the door. 

Miss Rottenmeier, slowly getting up, ap¬ 
proached the newcomers. She did not seem 
pleased with Heidi, who wore her hat and 
shawl and was looking up at the lady’s head¬ 
dress with innocent wonder. 

“What is your name?” the lady asked. 

“Heidi,” was the child’s clear answer. 

“What? Is that a Christian name? What 
name did you receive in baptism?” inquired 
the lady again. 

“I don’t remember that any more,” the 
child replied. 

“ What an answer! What does that mean ?” 
said the housekeeper, shaking her head. “Is 
the child ignorant or pert. Miss Deta?” 

“I shall speak for the child, if I may, 
madam,” Deta said, after giving Heidi a 
little blow for her unbecoming answer. “The 
child has never been in such a fine house 


• A* 


4 »# • 



HEIDI 


and does not know how to behave. I hope the 
lady will forgive her manners. She is called 
Adelheid after her mother, who was my sister.” 

“Oh well, that is better. But Miss Deta, 
the child seems peculiar for her age. I 
thought I told you that Miss Clara’s com¬ 
panion would have to be twelve years old 
like her, to be able to share her studies. 
How old is Adelheid?” 

“I am sorry, but I am afraid she is some¬ 
what younger than I thought. I think she 
is about ten years old.” 

“Grandfather said that I was eight years 
old,” said Heidi now. Deta gave her another 
blow, but as the child had no idea why, she 
did not get embarrassed. 

“What, only eight years old!” Miss Rot- 
tenmeier exclaimed indignantly. “How can 
we get along? What have you learned? 
What books have you studied?” 

“None,” said Heidi. 

“But how did you learn to read?” 

“I can’t read and Peter can’t do it either,” 
Heidi retorted. 


98 



A NEW CHAPTER 


“For mercy’s sake! you cannot read?” 
cried the lady in her surprise. “How is it 
possible? What else have you studied?” 

“Nothing,” replied Heidi, truthfully. 

“Miss Deta, how could you bring this 
child?” said the housekeeper, when she was 
more composed. 

Deta, however, was not easily intimidated, 
and said: “I am sorry, but I thought this 
child would suit you, She is small, but older 
children are often spoilt and not like her. I 
must go now, for my mistress is waiting. As 
soon as I can, I’ll come to see how the child 
is getting along.” With a bow she was outside 
and with a few quick step's hurried down-stairs. 

Miss Rottenmeier followed her and tried 
to call her back, for she wanted to ask Deta 
a number of questions. 

Heidi was still standing on the same spot. 
Clara had watched the scene, and called to 
the child now to come to her. 

Heidi approached the rolling-chair. 

“Do you want to be called Heidi or Adel- 
heid?” asked Clara. 


HEIDI 


“My name is Heidi and nothing else,” 
was the child’s answer. 

“I’ll call you Heidi then, for I like it very 
much,” said Clara. “I have never heard 
the name before. What curly hair you have! 
Was it always like that?” 

“I think so.” 

“Did you like to come to Frankfurt?” 
asked Clara again. 

“Oh, no, but then I am going home again 
to-morrow, and shall bring grandmother 
some soft white rolls,” Heidi explained. 

“What a curious child you are,” said 
Clara. “You have come to Frankfurt to 
stay with me, don’t you know that? We 
shall have our lessons together, and I think 
it will be great fun when you learn to read. 
Generally the morning seems to have no end. 
for Mr. Candidate comes at ten and stays 
till two. That is a long time, and he has to 
yawn himself, he gets so tired. Miss Rotten- 
meier and he both yawn together behind 
their books, but when I do it, Miss Rotten- 

meier makes me take cod-liver oil and says 
100 


A NEW CHAPTER 


that I am ill. So I must swallow my yawns, 
for I hate the oil. What fun it will be now, 
when you learn to read!” 

Heidi shook her head doubtfully at these 
prospects. 

“Everybody must learn to read, Heidi. 
Mr. Candidate is very patient and will ex¬ 
plain it all to you. You won’t know what he 
means at first, for it is difficult to understand 
him. It won’t take long to learn, though, 
and then you will know what he means.” 

When Miss Rottenmeier found that she 
was unable to recall Deta, she came back to 
the children. She was in a very excited 
mood, for she felt responsible for Heidi’s 
coming and did not know how to cancel 
this unfortunate step. She soon got up 
again to go to the dining-room, criticising 
the butler and giving orders to the maid. 
Sebastian, not daring to show his rage other¬ 
wise, noisily opened the folding doors. When 
he went up to Clara’s chair, he saw Heidi 
watching him intently. At last she said: 
“You look like Peter.” 





HEIDI 

Miss Rottenmeier was horrified with this 
remark, and sent them all into the dining¬ 
room. After Clara was lifted on to her chair, 
the housekeeper sat down beside her. Heidi 
was motioned to sit opposite the lady. In 
that way they were placed at the enormous 
table. When Heidi saw a roll on her plate, 
she turned to Sebastian, and pointing at 
it, asked, “Can I have this?” Heidi had 
already great confidence in the butler, es¬ 
pecially on account of the resemblance she 
had discovered. The butler nodded, and 
when he saw Heidi put the bread in her 
pocket, could hardly keep from laughing. 
He came to Heidi now with a dish of small 
baked fishes. For a long time the child did 
not move; then turning her eyes to the but¬ 
ler, she said: “Must I eat that?” Sebastian 
nodded, but another pause ensued. “Why 
don’t you give it to me?” the child quietly 
asked, looking at her plate. The butler, 
hardly able to keep his countenance, was 
told to place the dish on the table and 
leave the room. 

102 




A NEW CHAPTER 


When he was gone, Miss Rottenmeier ex¬ 
plained to Heidi with many signs how to 
help herself at table. She also told her never 
to speak to Sebastian unless it was important. 
After that the child was told how to accost 
the servants and the governess. When the 
question came up of how to call Clara, the older 
girl said, “ Of course you shall call me Clara.” 

A great many rules followed now about 
behavior at all times, about the shutting of 
doors and about going to bed, and a hundred 
other things. Poor Heidi’s eyes were closing, 
for she had risen at five that morning, and lean¬ 
ing against her chair she fell asleep. When 
Miss Rottenmeier had finished instructions, 
she said: “I hope you will remember every¬ 
thing, Adelheid. Did you understand me?” 

“Heidi went to sleep a long time ago,” 
said Clara, highly amused. 

“ It is atrocious what I have to bear with this 
child,” exclaimed Miss Rottenmeier, ringing 
the bell with all her might. When the two ser¬ 
vants arrived, they were hardly able to rouse 
Heidi enough to show her to her bed-room. 

103 


VII 


MISS ROTTENMEIER HAS AN 
UNCOMFORTABLE DAY 

Heidi opened her eyes 
morning, she did not 
where she was. She 
[ herself on a high white 
in a spacious room. Look¬ 
ing around she observed long white curtains 
before the windows, several chairs, and a sofa 
covered with cretonne; in a corner she saw a 
wash-stand with many curious things stand¬ 
ing on it. 

Suddenly Heidi remembered all the hap¬ 
penings of the previous day. Jumping out 
of bed, she dressed in a great hurry. She 
was eager to look at the sky and the ground 
below, as she had always done at home. 
What was her disappointment when she 
found that the windows were too high for 

104 




jL 




AN UNCOMFORTABLE DAY 


her to see anything except the walls and 
windows opposite. Trying to open them, 
she turned from one to the other, but in 
vain. The poor child felt like a little bird 
that is placed in a glittering cage for the 
first time. At last she had to resign herself, 
and sat down on a low stool, thinking of the 
melting snow on the slopes and the first 
flowers of spring that she had hailed with 
such delight. 

Suddenly Tinette opened the door and 
said curtly: “Breakfast’s ready.” 

Heidi did not take this for a summons, 
for the maid’s face was scornful and forbid¬ 
ding. She was waiting patiently for what 
would happen next, when Miss Rottenmeier 
burst into the room, saying: “What is the 
matter, Adelheid? Didn’t you understand? 
Come to breakfast!” 

Heidi immediately followed the lady into 
the dining-room, where Clara greeted her 
with a smile. She looked much happier than 
usual, for she expected new things to happen 
that day. When breakfast had passed with- 

105 


HEIDI 


out disturbance, the two children were al¬ 
lowed to go into the library together and 
were soon left alone. 

“How can I see down to the ground?” 
Heidi asked. 

“Open a window and peep out,” replied 
Clara, amused at the question. 

“But it is impossible to open them,” Heidi 
said, sadly. 

“Oh no. You can’t do it and I can’t 
help you, either, but if you ask Sebastian 
he’ll do it for you.” 

Heidi was relieved. The poor child had 
felt like a prisoner in her room. Clara now 
asked Heidi what her home had been like, 
and Heidi told her gladly about her life in 
the hut. 

The tutor had arrived in the meantime, 
but he was not asked to go to the study as 
usual. Miss Rottenmeier was very much 
excited about Heidi’s coming and all the 
complications that arose therefrom. She 
was really responsible for it, having arranged 

everything herself. She presented the un- 
106 


AN UNCOMFORTABLE DAY 


fortunate case before the teacher, for she 
wanted him to help her to get rid of the 
child. Mr. Candidate, however, was always 
careful of his judgments, and not afraid of 
teaching beginners. 

When the lady saw that he would not side 
with her, she let him enter the study alone, 
for the A,B,C held great horrors for her. 
While she considered many problems, a 
frightful noise as of something falling was 
heard in the adjoining room, followed by a 
cry to Sebastian for help. Running in, she 
beheld a pile of books and papers on the floor, 
with the table-cover on top. A black stream 
of ink flowed across the length of the room. 
Heidi had disappeared. 

“There,” Miss Rottenmeier exclaimed, 
wringing her hands. “Everything drenched 
with ink. Did such a thing ever happen 
before? This child brings nothing but mis¬ 
fortunes on us.” 

The teacher was standing up, looking at 
the devastation, but Clara was highly enter¬ 
tained by these events, and said: “Heidi 



HEIDI 


has not done it on purpose and must not 
be punished. In her hurry to get away she 
caught on the table-cover and pulled it down. 
I think she must never have seen a coach 
in all her life, for when she heard a carriage 
rumbling by, she rushed out like mad.” 

“Didn’t I tell you, Mr. Candidate, that 
she has no idea whatever about behavior? 
She does not even know that she has to sit 
quiet at her lessons. But where has she gone? 
What would Mr. Sesemann say if she should 
run away?” 

When Miss Rottenmeier went down-stairs 
to look for the child, she saw her standing 
at the open door, looking down the street. 

“What are you doing here? How can you 
run away like that?” scolded Miss Rotten¬ 
meier. 

“I heard the fir-trees rustle, but I can’t 
see them and do not hear them any more,” 
replied Heidi, looking in great perplexity 
dow T n the street. The noise of the passing 
carriage had reminded her of the roaring 
of the south-wind on the Alp. 



AN UNCOMFORTABLE DAY 


“Fir-trees? What nonsense! We are not 
in a wood. Come with me now to see what you 
have done. ’’ When Heidi saw the devastation 
that she had caused, she was greatly sur¬ 
prised, for she had not noticed it in her hurry. 

“This must never happen again,” said the 
lady sternly. “You must sit quiet at your 
lessons; if you get up again I shall tie you 
to your chair. Do you hear me?” 

Heidi understood, and gave a promise to 
sit quietly during her lessons from that time 
on. After the servants had straightened the 
room, it was late, and there was no more 
time for studies. Nobody had time to 
yawn that morning. 

In the afternoon, while Clara was resting, 
Heidi was left to herself. She planted her¬ 
self in the hall and waited for the butler to 
come up-stairs with the silver things. When 
he reached the head of the stairs, she said to 
him: “I want to ask you something.” She 
saw that the butler seemed angry, so she re¬ 
assured him by saying that she did not mean 
any harm. 


HEIDI 




“All right, Miss, what is it?” 

“My name is not Miss, why don’t you call 
me Heidi?” 

“Miss Rottenmeier told me to call you 
Miss.” 

“Did she? Well then, it must be so. I 
have three names already,” sighed the child. 

“What can I do for you?” asked Sebastian 
now. 

“Can you open a window for me?” 
“Certainly,” he replied. 

Sebastian got a stool for Heidi, for the 
window-sill was too high for her to see over. 
In great disappointment, Heidi turned her 
head away. 

“I don’t see anything but a street of stone. 
Is it the same way on the other side of the 
house?” 

“Yes.” 

“Where do you go to look far down on 
everything?” 

“On a church-tower. Do you see that 
one over there with the golden dome? From 

there you can overlook everything.” 

no 



AN UNCOMFORTABLE DAY 


Heidi immediately stepped down from 
the stool and ran down-stairs. Opening 
the door, she found herself in the street, 
but she could not see the tower any more. 
She wandered on from street to street, not 
daring to accost any of the busy people. 
Passing a corner, she saw a boy who had 
a barrel-organ on his back and a curious 
animal on his arm. Heidi ran to him and 
asked: “Where is the tower with the golden 
dome?” 

“Don’t know,” was the reply. 

“Who can tell me?” 

“Don’t know.”. 

“Can you show me another church with a 
tower?” 

“Of course I can.” 

“Then come and show me.” 

“What are you going to give me for it?” 
said the boy, holding out his hand. Heidi 
had nothing in her pocket but a little flower- 
picture. Clara had only given it to her this 
morning, so she was loath to part with it. 
The temptation to look far down into the 


HEIDI 


valley was too great for her, though, and 
she offered him the gift. The boy shook his 
head, to Heidi’s satisfaction. 

“What else do you want?” 

“Money.” 

“I have none, but Clara has some. How 
much must I give you?” 

“Twenty pennies.” 

“All right, but come.” 

While they were wandering down the 
street, Heidi found out what a barrel-organ 
was, for she had never seen one. When they 
arrived before an old church with a tower, 
Heidi was puzzled what to do next, but 
having discovered a bell, she pulled it with 
all her might. The boy agreed to wait for 
Heidi and show her the way home if she gave 
him a double fee. 

The lock creaked now from inside, and 
an old man opened the door. In an angry 
voice, he said: “How do you dare to ring 
for me? Can’t you see that it is only for 
those who want to see the tower?” 

“But I do,” said Heidi. 

112 




AN UNCOMFORTABLE DAY 


“What do you want to see? Did anybody 
send you?” asked the man,. 

“No; but I want to look down from up 
there.” 

“Get home and don’t try it again.” With 
that the tower-keeper was going to shut the 
door, but Heidi held his coat-tails and pleaded 
with him to let her come. The tower-keeper 
looked at the child’s eyes, which were nearly 
full of tears. 

“All right, come along, if you care so 
much,” he said, taking her by the hand. 
The two climbed up now many, many steps, 
which got narrower all the time. When 
they had arrived on top, the old man lifted 
Heidi up to the open window. 

Heidi saw nothing but a sea of chimneys, 
roofs and towers, and her heart sank. “Oh, 
dear, it’s different from the way I thought 
it would be,” she said. 

“There! what could such a little girl know 
about a view? We’ll go down now and you 
must promise never to ring at my tower any 
more.” 

S 113 













HEIDI 


On their way they passed an attic, where 
a large grey cat guarded her new family in 
a basket. This cat caught half-a-dozen mice 
every day for herself, for the old tower was 
full of rats and mice. Heidi gazed at her 
in surprise, and was delighted when the old 
man opened the basket. 

“What charming kittens, what cunning 
little creatures!” she exclaimed in her de¬ 
light, when she saw them crawling about, 
jumping and tumbling. 

“Would you like to have one?” the old 
man asked. 

“For me? to keep?” Heidi asked, for she 
could not believe her ears. 

“Yes, of course. You can have several if 
you have room for them,” the old man said, 
glad to find a good home for the kittens. 

How happy Heidi was! Of course there 
was enough room in the huge house, and 
Clara would be delighted when she saw the 
cunning things. 

“How can I take them with me?” the child 
asked, after she had tried in vain to catch one. 


AN UNCOMFORTABLE DAY 

“I can bring them to your house, if you 
tell me where you live,” said Heidi’s new 
friend, while he caressed the old cat, who 
had lived with him many years. 

“Bring them to Mr. Sesemann’s house; 
there is a golden dog on the door, with a 
ring in his mouth.” 

The old man had lived in the tower a 
long time and knew everybody; Sebastian 
also was a special friend of his. 

“I know,” he said. “But to whom shall 
I send them? Do you belong to Mr. Sese- 
mann?” 

“No. Please send them to Clara; she 
will like them, I am sure.” 

Heidi could hardly tear herself away from 
the pretty things, so the old man put one 
kitten in each of her pockets to console her. 
After that she went away. 

The boy was waiting patiently for her, 
and when she had taken leave of the tower- 
keeper, she asked the boy: “Do you know 
where Mr. Sesemann’s house is?” 

“No,” was the reply. 

115 



* a. 


si it* 


Jk 













* 


HEIDI 


She described it as well as she could, till 
the boy remembered it. Off they started, 
and soon Heidi found herself pulling the 
door-bell. When Sebastian arrived he said: 
“Hurry up.” Heidi went in, and the boy 
was left outside, for Sebastian had not even 
seen him. 

“Come up quickly, little Miss,” he urged. 
“They are all waiting for you in the dining¬ 
room. Miss Rottenmeier looks like a loaded 
cannon. How could you run away like that?” 

Heidi sat down quietly on her chair. No¬ 
body said a word, and there was an un¬ 
comfortable silence. At last Miss Rotten¬ 
meier began with a severe and solemn voice: 
“I shall speak with you later, Adelheid. 
How can you leave the house without a 
word? Your behavior was very remiss. The 
idea of walking about till so late!” 

“Meow!” was the reply. 

“I didn’t,” Heidi began— “Meow!” 

Sebastian nearly flung the dish on the 
table, and disappeared. 

“This is enough,” Miss Rottenmeier tried 
116 










OFF THEY STARTED, AND SOON HEIDI WAS PULLING THE DOOR-BELL 















AN UNCOMFORTABLE DAY 


to say, but her voice was hoarse with fury. 
“Get up and leave the room.” 

Heidi got up. She began again. “I 
made—” “Meow! meow! meow!—” 

“Heidi,” said Clara now, “why do you 
always say ‘meow’ again, if you see that 
Miss Rottenmeier is angry?” 

“I am not doing it, it’s the kittens,” she 
explained. 

“What? Cats? Kittens?” screamed the 
housekeeper. “Sebastian, Tinette, take the 
horrible things away!” With that she ran 
into the study, locking herself in, for she 
feared kittens beyond anything on earth. 
When Sebastian had finished his laugh, he 
came into the room. He had foreseen the 
excitement, having caught sight of the kit¬ 
tens when Heidi came in. The scene was a 
very peaceful one now; Clara held the little 
kittens in her lap, and Heidi was kneeling 
beside her. They both played happily with 
the two graceful creatures. The butler 
promised to look after the new-comers and 
prepared a bed for them in a basket. 

117 



HEIDI 


A long time afterwards, when it was time 
to go to bed, Miss Rottenmeier cautiously 
opened the door. “Are they away?” she 
asked. “Yes,” replied the butler, quickly 
seizing the kittens and taking them away. 

The lecture that Miss Rottenmeier was 
going to give Heidi was postponed to the 
following day, for the lady was too much 
exhausted after her fright. They all went 
quietly to bed, and the children were happy 
in the thought that their kittens had a com¬ 
fortable bed. 




VIII 

GREAT DISTURBANCES IN THE 
SESEMANN HOUSE 


SHORT time after the tutor 
had arrived next morning, the 
door-bell rang so violently that 
Sebastian thought it must be 
Mr. Sesemann himself. What 
was his surprise when a dirty street-boy, 
with a barrel-organ on his back, stood be¬ 
fore him! 

“What do you mean by pulling the bell 
like that?” the butler said. 

“I want to see Clara.” 

“Can’t you at least say ‘Miss Clara’, you 
ragged urchin?” said Sebastian harshly. 

“She owes me forty pennies,” said the boy. 

“You are crazy! How do you know Miss 
Clara lives here?” 

“ I showed her the way yesterday and she 
promised to give me forty pennies.” 

“What nonsense! Miss Clara never goes 

119 






HEIDI 

out. You had better take yourself off, before 
I send you!” 

The boy, however, did not even budge, 
and said: “I saw her. She has curly hair, 
black eyes and talks in a funny way.” 

“Oh,” Sebastian chuckled to himself, 
“that was the little Miss.” 

Pulling the boy into the house, he said: 
“All right, you can follow me. Wait at the 
door till I call you, and then you can play 
something for Miss Clara.” 

Knocking at the study-door, Sebastian 
said, when he had entered: “A boy is here 
who wants to see Miss Clara.” 

Clara, delighted at his interruption, said: 
“Can’t he come right up, Mr. Candidate?” 

But the boy was already inside, and 
started to play. Miss Rottenmeier was in 
the adjoining room when she heard the 
sounds. Where did they come from? Hur¬ 
rying into the study, she saw the street-boy 
playing to the eager children. 

“Stop! stop!” she called, but in vain, for 

the music drowned her voice. Suddenly she 
120 






GREAT DISTURBANCES 


made a big jump, for there, between her 
feet, crawled a black turtle. Only when 
she shrieked for Sebastian could her voice 
be heard. The butler came straight in, for 
he had seen everything behind the door, 
and a great scene it had been! Glued to a 
chair in her fright, Miss Rottenmeier called: 
“Send the boy away! Take them away!” 

Sebastian obediently pulled the boy after 
him; then he said: “Here are forty pennies 
from Miss Clara and forty more for play¬ 
ing. It was well done, my boy.” 

With that he closed the door behind him. 
Miss Rottenmeier found it wiser now to 
stay in the study to prevent further dis¬ 
turbances. Suddenly there was another 
knock at the door. Sebastian appeared with a 
large basket, which had been brought for Clara. 

“We had better have our lesson before 
we inspect it,” said Miss Rottenmeier. But 
Clara, turning to the tutor, asked: “Oh, 
please, Mr. Candidate, can’t we just peep 
in, to see what it is?” 

“I am afraid that you will think of noth- 


HEIDI 


ing else,” the teacher began. Just then 
something in the basket, which had been 
only lightly fastened, moved, and one, two, 
three and still more little kittens jumped 
out, scampering around the room with the 
utmost speed. They bounded over the tutor’s 
boots and bit his trousers; they climbed up 
on Miss Rottenmeier’s dress and crawled 
around her feet. Mewing and running, they 
caused a frightful confusion. Clara called 
out in delight: “Oh, look at the cunning 
creatures; look how they jump! Heidi, look at 
that one, and oh, see the one over there?” 

Heidi followed them about, while the 
teacher shook them off. When the house¬ 
keeper had collected her wits after the great 
fright, she called for the servants. They 
soon arrived and stored the little kittens 
safely in the new bed. 

No time had been found for yawning that 
day, either! 

When Miss Rottenmeier, who had found 
out the culprit, was alone with the children 

in the evening, she began severely: 

122 



GREAT DISTURBANCES 


“Adelheid, there is only one punishment 
for you. I am going to send you to the 
cellar, to think over your dreadful misdeeds, 
in company with the rats.” 

A cellar held no terrors for Heidi, for in 
her grandfather’s cellar fresh milk and the 
good cheese had been kept, and no rats had 
lodged there. 

But Clara shrieked: “Oh, Miss Rotten- 
meier, you must wait till Papa comes home, 
and then he can punish Heidi.” 

The lady unwillingly replied: “All right, 
Clara, but I shall also speak a few words to 
Mr. Sesemann.” With those words she left 
the room. Since the child’s arrival every¬ 
thing had been upset, and the lady often 
felt discouraged, though nothing remark¬ 
able happened for a few days. 

Clara, on the contrary, enjoyed her com¬ 
panion’s society, for she always did funny 
things. In her lesson she could never get her 
letters straight. They meant absolutely 
nothing to her, except that they would remind 
her of goats and eagles. The girls always 


HEIDI 


spent their evenings together, and Heidi 
would entertain her friend with tales of her 
former life, till her longing grew so great 
that she added: “I have to go home now. 
I must go tomorrow.” 

Clara’s soothing words and the prospect 
of more rolls for the grandmother kept the 
child. Every day after dinner she was left 
alone in her room for some hours. Think¬ 
ing of the green fields at home, of the spark¬ 
ling flowers on the mountains, she would 
sit in a corner till her desire for all those 
things became too great to bear. Her aunt 
had clearly told her that she might return, 
if she wished to do so, so one day she re¬ 
solved to leave for the Aim-hut, In a great 
hurry she packed the bread in the red shawl, 
and putting on her old straw hat, started off. 
The poor child did not get very far. At the 
door she encountered Miss Rottenmeier, who 
stared at Heidi in mute surprise. 

“What are you up to?” she exploded. 
“Haven’t I forbidden you to run away? 
You look like a vagabond!” 


GREAT DISTURBANCES 


‘T was only going home,” whispered the 
frightened child. 

“What, you want to run away from this 
house? What would Mr. Sesemann say? 
What is it that does not suit you here? 
Don’t you get better treatment than you 
deserve? Have you ever before had such 
food, service and such a room? Answer!” 
“No,” was the reply. 

“Don’t I know that?” the furious lady 
proceeded. “What a thankless child you 
are, just idle and good-for-nothing!” 

But Heidi could not bear it any longer. 
She loudly wailed: “Oh, I want to go home. 
What will poor Snowhopper do without me? 
Grandmother is waiting for me every day. 
Poor Thistlefinch gets blows if Peter gets 
no cheese, and I must see the sun again 
when he says good-night to the mountains. 
How the eagle would screech if he saw all 
the people here in Frankfurt!” 

“For mercy’s sake, the child is crazy!” 
exclaimed Miss Rottenmeier, running up the 
stairs. In her hurry she had bumped into 


HEIDI 


Sebastian, who was just then coming down. 

“Bring the unlucky child up!” she called 
to him, rubbing her head. 

“All right, many thanks,” answered the 
butler, rubbing his head, too, for he had en¬ 
countered something far harder than she had. 

When the butler came down, he saw Heidi 
standing near the door with flaming eyes, 
trembling all over. Cheerfully he asked: 
“What has happened, little one? Do not 
take it to heart, and cheer up. She nearly 
made a hole in my head just now, but we 
must not get discouraged. Oh, no!—Come, 
up with you; she said so!” 

Heidi walked up-stairs very slowly. See¬ 
ing her so changed, Sebastian said: 

“Don’t give in! Don’t be so sad! You 
have been so courageous till now; I have 
never heard you cry yet. Come up now, and 
when the lady’s away we’ll go and look at the 
kittens. They are running round like wild!” 

Nodding cheerlessly, the child disappeared 
in her room. 

That night at supper Miss Rottenmeier 

126 



GREAT DISTURBANCES 


watched Heidi constantly, but nothing hap¬ 
pened. The child sat as quiet as a mouse, 
hardly touching her food, except the little roll. 

Talking with the tutor next morning. Miss 
Rottenmeier told him her fears about Heidi’s 
mind. But the teacher had more serious 
troubles still, for Heidi had not even learned 
her A,B,C in all this time. 

Heidi was sorely in need of some clothes, 
so Clara had given her some. Miss Rotten¬ 
meier was just busy arranging the child’s 
wardrobe, when she suddenly returned. 

“Adelheid,” she said contemptuously, 
“what do I find? A big pile of bread in 
your wardrobe! I never heard the like. 
Yes, Clara, it is true.” Then, calling Tinette, 
she ordered her to take away the bread and 
the old straw hat she had found. 

“No, don’t! I must keep my hat! The bread 
is for grandmother,” cried Heidi in despair. 

“You stay here, while we take the rubbish * 
away,” said the lady sternly. 

Heidi threw herself down now on Clara’s 
chair and sobbed as if her heart would break. 

127 




HEIDI 




“Now I can’t bring grandmother any rolls! 
Oh,they were for grandmother !”she lamented. 

“Heidi, don’t cry any more,” Clara 
begged. “Listen! When you go home some 
day, I am going to give you as many rolls 
as you had, and more. They will be much 
softer and better than those stale ones you 
have kept. Those were not fit to eat, Heidi. 
Stop now, please, and don’t cry any more!” 

Only after a long, long time did Heidi 
become quiet. When she had heard Clara’s 
promise, she cried: “Are you really going to 
give me as many as I had?” 

At supper, Heidi’s eyes were swollen and it 
was still hard for her to keep from crying. 
Sebastian made strange signs to her that 
she did not understand. What did he mean? 

Later, though, when she climbed into her 
high bed, she found her old beloved straw 
hat hidden under her cover. So Sebastian 
had saved it for her and had tried to tell 
her! She crushed it for joy, and wrapping 
it in a handkerchief, she hid it in the furthest 
corner of her wardrobe. 



IX 


THE MASTER OF THE HOUSE HEARS 
OF STRANGE DOINGS 


FEW days afterwards there 
was great excitement in the 
Sesemann residence, for the 
master of the house had just 
arrived. The servants were 
taking upstairs one load after another, for 
Mr. Sesemann always brought many lovely 
things home with him. 

When he entered his daughter’s room, 
Heidi shyly retreated into a corner. He 
greeted Clara affectionately, and she was 
equally delighted to see him, for she loved 
her father dearly. Then he called to Heidi: 
“Oh, there is our little Swiss girl. Come 
and give me your hand! That’s right. Are 
you good friends, my girls, tell me now? You 
don’t fight together, what?” 

“Oh, no, Clara is always kind to me,” 
Heidi replied. 

9 





i 


129 




HEIDI 


“Heidi has never even tried to fight, 
Papa,” Clara quickly remarked. 

“That’s good, I like to hear that,” said 
the father rising. “I must get my dinner 
now, for I am hungry. I shall come back 
soon and show you what I have brought 
home with me.” 

In the dining-room he found Miss Rotten- 
meier surveying the table with a most tragic 
face. “You do not look very happy at my 
arrival. Miss Rottenmeier. What is the 
matter? Clara seems well enough,” he said 
to her. 

“Oh, Mr. Sesemann, we have been terribly 
disappointed,” said the lady. 

“How do you mean?” asked Mr. Sese¬ 
mann, calmly sipping his wine. 

“We had decided, as you know, to have 
a companion for Clara. Knowing as I did 
that you would wish me to get a noble, pure 
child, I thought of this Swiss child, hoping 
she would go through life like a breath of 
pure air, hardly touching the earth.” 

“I think that even Swiss children are 


STRANGE DOINGS 


made to touch the earth, otherwise they 
would have to have wings.” 

“I think you understand what I mean 
I have been terribly disappointed, for this 
child has brought the most frightful animals 
into the house. Mr. Candidate can tell you!” 

“The child does not look very terrible. 
But what do you mean?” 

“I cannot explain it, because she does not 
seem in her right mind at times.” 

Mr. Sesemann was getting worried at last, 
when the tutor entered. 

“Oh, Mr. Candidate, I hope you will ex¬ 
plain. Please take a cup of coffee with me 
and tell me about my daughter’s companion. 
Make it short, if you please!” 

But this was impossible for Mr. Candidate, 
who had to greet Mr. Sesemann first. Then 
he began to reassure his host about the child, 
pointing out to him that her education had 
been neglected till then, and so on. But 
poor Mr. Sesemann, unfortunately, did not 
get his answer, and had to listen to very 
long-winded explanations of the child’s char- 







/v 








HEIDI 


acter. At last Mr. Sesemann got up, saying: 
“Excuse me, Mr. Candidate, but I must go 
over to Clara now.” 

He found the children in the study. Turn¬ 
ing to Heidi, who had risen at his approach, 
he said: “Come, little one, get me—get me 
a glass of water.” 

“Fresh water?” 

‘ £ Of course, fresh water, ’ ’ he replied. When 
Heidi had gone, he sat down near Clara, 
holding her hand. “Tell me, little Clara,” 
he asked, “please tell me clearly what ani¬ 
mals Heidi has brought into the house; is 
she really not right in her mind?” 

Clara now began to relate to her father 
all the incidents with the kittens and the 
turtle, and explained Heidi’s speeches that 
had so frightened the lady. Mr. Sesemann 
laughed heartily and asked Clara if she 
wished Heidi to remain. 

“Of course, Papa. Since she is here, 
something amusing happens every day; it 
used to be so dull, but now Heidi keeps 
me company.” 


132 






STRANGE DOINGS 


“Very good, very good, Clara; Oh! here 
is your friend back again. Did you get 
nice fresh water?” asked Mr. Sesemann. 

Heidi handed him the glass and said: 
“Yes, fresh from the fountain.” 

“You did not go to the fountain yourself, 
Heidi?” said Clara. 

“Certainly, but I had to get it from far, 
there were so many people at the first and 
at the second fountain. I had to go down 
another street and there I got it. A gentle¬ 
man with white hair sends his regards to 
you, Mr. Sesemann.” 

Clara’s father laughed and asked: “Who 
was the gentleman?” 

“When he passed by the fountain and 
saw me there with a glass, he stood still 
and said: ‘Please give me to drink, for you 
have a glass; to whom are you bringing 
the water?’ Then I said: ‘I am bringing 
it to Mr. Sesemann.’ When he heard that 
he laughed very loud and gave me his re¬ 
gards for you, with the wish that you would 
enjoy your drink.” 


HEIDI 




“I wonder who it was? What did the 
gentleman look like?” 

“He has a friendly laugh and wears a gold 
pendant with a red stone on his thick gold 
chain; there is a horsehead on his cane.” 

“Oh, that was the doctor—” “That was 
my old doctor,” exclaimed father and daugh¬ 
ter at the same time. 

In the evening, Mr. Sesemann told Miss 
Rottenmeier that Heidi was going to remain, 
for the children were very fond of each 
other and he found Heidi normal and very 
sweet. “I want the child to be treated 
kindly,” Mr. Sesemann added decidedly. 
“Her peculiarities must not be punished. 
My mother is coming very soon to stay here, 
and she will help you to manage the child, 
for there is nobody in this world that my 
mother could not get along with, as you 
know. Miss Rottenmeier.” 

“Of course, I know that, Mr. Sesemann,” 
replied the lady, but she was not very much 
pleased at the prospect. 

Mr. Sesemann only stayed two weeks, for 

134 







STRANGE DOINGS 


his business called him back to Paris. He 
consoled his daughter by telling her that 
his mother was coming in a very few days. 
Mr. Sesemann had hardly left, when the 
grandmother’s visit was announced for the 
following day. 

Clara was looking forward to this visit, 
and told Heidi so much about her dear 
grandmama that Heidi also began to call 
her by that name, to Miss Rottenmeier’s 
disapproval, who thought that the child was 
not entitled to this intimacy. 







A GRANDMAMA 


HE following evening great ex¬ 
pectation reigned in the house. 
Tinette had put on a new cap, 
Sebastian was placing foot¬ 
stools in front of nearly every 
armchair, and Miss Rottenmeier walked with 
great dignity about the house, inspecting 
everything. 

When the carriage at last drove up, the 
servants flew downstairs, followed by Miss 
Rottenmeier in more measured step. Heidi 
had been sent to her room to await further 
orders, but it was not long before Tinette 
opened the door and said brusquely: “Go 
into the study!” 

The grandmama, with her kind and lov¬ 
ing way, immediately befriended the child 
and made her feel as if she had known her 
always. To the housekeeper’s great mor¬ 
tification, she called the child Heidi, remark- 










A GRANDMAMA 


ing to Miss Rottenmeier: “If somebody’s 
name is Heidi, I call her so.” 

The housekeeper soon found that she had 
to respect the grandmother’s ways and opin¬ 
ions. Mrs. Sesemann always knew what 
was going on in the house the minute she 
entered it. On the following afternoon Clara 
was resting and the old lady had shut her 
eyes for five minutes, when she got up again 
and went into the dining-room. With a sus¬ 
picion that the housekeeper was probably 
asleep, she went to this lady’s room, knocking 
loudly on the door. After a while somebody 
stirred inside, and with a bewildered face 
Miss Rottenmeier appeared, staring at the 
unexpected visitor. 

“Rottenmeier, where is the child? How 
does she pass her time? I want to know,” 
said- Mrs. Sesemann. 

“She just sits in her room, not moving a 
finger; she has not the slightest desire to do 
something useful, and that is why she thinks 
of such absurd things that one can hardly 
mention them in polite society.” 

137 


HEIDI 


“I should do exactly the same thing, if I 
were left alone like that. Please bring her 
to my room now, I want to show her some 
pretty books I have brought with me.” 

“ That is just the trouble. What should she 
do with books? In all this time she has not 
even learned the A,B,C, for it is impossible to 
instil any knowledge into this being. If Mr. 
Candidate was not as patient as an angel, he 
would have given up teaching her long ago.” 

“How strange! The child does not look 
to me like one who cannot learn the A,B, C,” 
said Mrs. Sesemann. “Please fetch her now; 
we can look at the pictures anyway.” 

The housekeeper was going to say more, 
but the old lady had turned already and 
gone to her room. She was thinking over 
what she had heard about Heidi, making up 
her mind to look into the matter. 

Heidi had come and was looking with won¬ 
dering eyes at the splendid pictures in the 
large books, that Grandmama was showing 
her. Suddenly she screamed aloud, for there 
on the picture she saw a peaceful flock graz- 

138 



A GRANDMAMA 


ing on a green pasture. In the middle a shep¬ 
herd was standing, leaning on his crook. The 
setting sun was shedding a golden light over 
everything. With glowing eyes Heidi de¬ 
voured the scene; but suddenly she began 
to sob violently. 

The grandmama took her little hand in 
hers and said in the most soothing voice: 
“Come, child, you must not cry. Did this 
remind you of something? Now stop, and 
I’ll tell you the story to-night. There are 
lovely stories in this book, that people can 
read and tell. Dry your tears now, darling, 
I must ask you something. Stand up now 
and look at me! Now we are merry again!” 

Heidi did not stop at once, but the kind 
lady gave her ample time to compose her¬ 
self, saying from time to time: “Now it’s all 
over. Now we’ll be merry again.” 

When the child was quiet at last, she said: 
“Tell me now how your lessons are going. 
What have you learnt, child, tell me?” 

“Nothing,” Heidi sighed; “but I knew 
that I never could learn it.” 


HEIDI 


“What is it that you can’t learn?” 

“I can’t learn to read; it is too hard.” 

“What next? Who gave you this informa¬ 
tion?” 

“Peter told me, and he tried over and over 
again, but he could not do it, for it is too 
hard.” 

“Well, what kind of boy is he? Heidi, 
you must not believe what Peter tells you, 
but try for yourself. I am sure you had 
your thoughts elsewhere when Mr. Candi¬ 
date showed you the letters.” 

“It’s no use,” Heidi said with such a tone 
as if she was resigned to her fate. 

“I am going to tell you something, Heidi,” 
said the kind lady now. “You have not 
learnt to read because you have believed 
what Peter said. You shall believe me now, 
and I prophesy that you will learn it in a 
very short time, as a great many other chil¬ 
dren do that are like you and not like Peter. 
When you can read, I am going to give you 
this book. You have seen the shepherd on 
the green pasture, and then you’ll be able 


A GRANDMAMA 


to find out all the strange things that happen 
to him. Yes, you can hear the whole story, 
and what he does with his sheep and his goats. 
You would like to know, wouldn’t you, Heidi?” 

Heidi had listened attentively, and said 
now with sparkling eyes: “If I could only 
read already!” 

“It won’t be long, I can see that. Come 
now and let us go to Clara.” With that 
they both went over to the study. 

Since the day of Heidi’s attempted flight 
a great change had come over the child. 
She had realized that it would hurt her kind 
friends if she tried to go home again. She 
knew now that she could not leave, as her 
Aunt Deta had promised, for they all, es¬ 
pecially Clara and her father and the old 
lady, would think her ungrateful. But the 
burden grew heavier in her heart and she 
lost her appetite, and got paler and paler. 
She could not get to sleep at night from 
longing to see the mountains with the flowers 
and the sunshine, and only in her dreams 
she would be happy. When she woke up 


HEIDI 


in the morning, she always found herself on 
her high white bed, far away from home. 
Burying her head in her pillow, she would 
often weep a long, long time. 

Mrs. Sesemann had noticed the child’s 
unhappiness, but let a few days pass by, 
hoping for a change. But the change never 
came, and often Heidi’s eyes were red even 
in the early morning. So she called the 
child to her room one day and said, with 
great sympathy in her voice: “Tell me, 
Heidi, what is the matter with you? What 
is making you so sad?” 

But as Heidi did not want to appear thank¬ 
less, she replied sadly: “I can’t tell you.” 

“No? Can’t you tell Clara perhaps?” 

“Oh, no, I can’t tell anyone,” Heidi said, 
looking so unhappy that the old lady’s heart 
was filled with pity. 

“I tell you something, little girl,” she con¬ 
tinued. “If you have a sorrow that you 
cannot tell to anyone, you can go to Our 
Father in Heaven. You can tell Him every¬ 
thing that troubles you, and if we ask Him 


A GRANDMAMA 


He can help us and take our suffering away. 
Do you understand me, child ? Don’t you pray 
every night? Don’t you thank Him for all His 
gifts and ask Him to protect you from evil?” 

“ Oh no, I never do that,” replied the child. 

“Have you never prayed, Heidi? Do you 
know what I mean?” 

“I only prayed with my first grandmother, 
but it is so long ago, that I have forgotten.” 

“See, Heidi, I understand now why you 
are so unhappy. We all need somebody to 
help us, and just think how wonderful it is, 
to be able to go to the Lord, when some¬ 
thing distresses us and causes us pain. We 
can tell Him everything and ask Him to 
comfort us, when nobody else can do it. He 
can give us happiness and joy.” 

Heidi was gladdened by these tidings, and 
asked: “Can we tell Him everything, every¬ 
thing?” 

“Yes, Heidi, everything.” 

The child, withdrawing her hand from the 
grandmama, said hurriedly, “Can I go now?” 

“Yes, of course,” was the reply, and with 

143 


HEIDI 


this Heidi ran to her room. Sitting down 
on a stool she folded her hands and poured 
out her heart to God, imploring Him to help 
her and let her go home to her grandfather. 

About a week later, Mr. Candidate asked 
to see Mrs. Sesemann, to tell her of some¬ 
thing unusual that had occurred. Being 
called to the lady’s room, he began: “Mrs. 
Sesemann, something has happened that I 
never expected,” and with many more words 
the happy grandmama was told that Heidi 
had suddenly learned to read with the ut¬ 
most correctness, most rare with beginners. 

“Many strange things happen in this 
world,” Mrs. Sesemann remarked, while they 
went over to the study to witness Heidi’s 
new accomplishment. Heidi was sitting 
close to Clara, reading her a story; she 
seemed amazed at the strange, new world 
that had opened up before her. At supper 
Heidi found the large book with the beauti¬ 
ful pictures on her plate, and looking doubt¬ 
fully at grandmama, she saw the old lady 
nod. “ Now it belongs to you, Heidi,” she said. 



A GRANDMAMA 


“Forever? Also when I am going home ?” 
Heidi inquired, confused with joy. 

“Certainly, forever!” the grandmama as¬ 
sured her. “Tomorrow we shall begin to 
read it.” 

“But Heidi, you must not go home; no, 
not for many years,” Clara exclaimed, “es¬ 
pecially when grandmama goes away. You 
must stay with me.” 

Heidi still looked at her book before going 
to bed that night, and this book became her 
dearest treasure. She would look at the 
beautiful pictures and read all the stories 
aloud to Clara. Grandmama would quietly 
listen and explain something here and there, 
making it more beautiful than before. Heidi 
loved the pictures with the shepherd best 
of all; they told the story of the prodigal 
son, and the child would read and re-read 
it till she nearly knew it all by heart. Since 
Heidi had learned to read and possessed the 
book, the days seemed to fly, and the time 
had come near that the grandmama had 
fixed for her departure. 

10 145 


XI 



HEIDI GAINS IN SOME RESPECTS 
AND LOSES IN OTHERS 

HE grandmama sent for Heidi 
every day after dinner, while 
Clara was resting and Miss 
Rottenmeier disappeared in¬ 
to her room. She talked to 
Heidi and amused her in various ways, show¬ 
ing her how to make clothes for pretty 
little dolls that she had brought. Uncon¬ 
sciously Heidi had learned to sew, and made 
now the sweetest dresses and coats for the 
little people out of lovely materials the 
grandmama would give her. Often Heidi 
would read to the old lady, for the oftener 
she read over the stories the dearer they 
became to her. The child lived everything 
through with the people in the tales and 
was always happy to be with them again. 








HEIDI GAINS AND LOSES 

But she never looked really cheerful and her 
eyes never sparkled merrily as before. 

In the last week of Mrs. Sesemann’s stay, 
Heidi was called again to the old lady’s 
room. The child entered with her beloved 
book under her arm. Mrs. Sesemann drew 
Heidi close to her, and laying the book aside, 
she said: “ Come, child, and tell me why you 
are so sad. Do you still have the same 
sorrow?” 

“Yes,” Heidi replied. 

“Did you confide it to Our Lord?” 

\es. 

“Do you pray to Him every day that He 
may make you happy again and take your 
affliction away?” 

“Oh no, I don’t pray any more.” 

“What do I hear, Heidi? Why don’t you 
pray?” 

“It does not help, for God has not listened. 
I don’t wonder,” she added, “for if all the 
people in Frankfurt pray every night, He 
cannot listen to them all. I am sure He 
has not heard me.” 





V% It' 





HEIDI 


“Really? Why are you so sure?” 

“Because I have prayed for the same thing 
many, many weeks and God has not done 
what I have asked Him to.” 

“That is not the way, Heidi. You see, 
God in heaven is a good Father to all of us, 
who knows what we need better than we 
do. When something we ask for is not very 
good for us, He gives us something much 
better, if we confide in Him and do not lose 
confidence in His love. I am sure what 
you asked for was not very good for you 
just now; He has heard you, for He can 
hear the prayers of all the people in the 
world at the same time, because He is God 
Almighty and not a mortal like us. He 
heard your prayers and said to Himself: 
‘Yes, Heidi shall get what she is praying 
for in time.’ Now, while God was looking 
down on you to hear your prayers, you lost 
confidence and went away from Him. If 
God does not hear your prayers any more, 
He will forget you also and let you go. 
Don’t you want to go back to Him, Heidi, 



HEIDI GAINS AND LOSES 


and ask His forgiveness? Pray to Him every 
day, and hope in Him, that He may bring 
cheer and happiness to you.” 

Heidi had listened attentively; she had 
unbounded confidence in the old lady, whose 
words had made a deep impression on her. 
Full of repentance, she said: “I shall go at 
once and ask Our Father to pardon me. 
I shall never forget Him any more!” 

“That’s right, Heidi; I am sure He will 
help you in time, if you only trust in Him,” 
the grandmother consoled her. Heidi went 
to her room now and prayed earnestly to 
God that He would forgive her and fulfill 
her wish. 

The day of departure had come, but Mrs. 
Sesemann arranged everything in such a 
way that the children hardly realized she was 
actually going. Still everything was empty 
and quiet when she had gone, and the 
children hardly knew how to pass their time. 

Next day, Heidi came to Clara in the 
afternoon and said: “Can I always, always 
read to you now, Clara?” 

149 





HEIDI 


Clara assented, and Heidi began. But 
she did not get very far, for the story she 
was reading told of a grandmother’s death. 
Suddenly she cried aloud: “Oh, now grand¬ 
mother is dead!” and wept in the most piti¬ 
ful fashion. Whatever Heidi read always 
seemed real to her, and now she thought it 
was her own grandmother at home. Louder 
and louder she sobbed: “Now poor grand¬ 
mother is dead and I can never see her any 
more; and she never got one single roll!” 

Clara attempted to explain the mistake, 
but Heidi was too much upset. She pict¬ 
ured to herself how terrible it would be if 
her dear old grandfather would die too while 
she was far away. How quiet and empty 
it would be in the hut, and how lonely she 
would be! 

Miss Rottenmeier had overheard the scene, 
and approaching the sobbing child she said 
impatiently: “Adelheid, now you have 
screamed enough. If I hear you again giv¬ 
ing way to yourself in such a noisy fashion, 
I shall take your book away forever!” 

150 



HEIDI GAINS AND LOSES 


Heidi turned pale at that, for the book 
was her greatest treasure. Quickly drying 
her tears, she choked down her sobs. After 
that Heidi never cried again; often she 
could hardly repress her sobs and was obliged 
to make the strangest faces to keep herself 
from crying out. Clara often looked at her, 
full of surprise, but Miss Rottenmeier did 
not notice them and found no occasion to 
carry out her threat. However, the poor 
child got more cheerless every day, and 
looked so thin and pale that Sebastian be¬ 
came worried. He tried to encourage her 
at table to help herself to all the good dishes, 
but listlessly she would let them pass and 
hardly touch them. In the evening she 
would cry quietly, her heart bursting with 
longing to go home. 

Thus the time passed by. Heidi never 
knew if it was summer or winter, for the 
walls opposite never changed. They drove 
out very seldom, for Clara was only able 
to go a short distance. They never saw 
anything else than streets, houses and busy 

151 


HEIDI 


people; no grass, no fir-trees and no moun¬ 
tains. Heidi struggled constantly against 
her sorrow, but in vain. Autumn and win¬ 
ter had passed, and Heidi knew that the 
time was coming when Peter would go up 
the Alp with his goats, where the flowers 
were glistening in the sunshine and the moun¬ 
tains were all afire. She would sit down in 
a corner of her room and put both hands 
before her eyes, not to see the glaring sun¬ 
shine on the opposite wall. There she would 
remain, eating her heart away with long¬ 
ing, till Clara would call for her to come. 










THERE SHE WOULD REMAIN, EATING HER HEART AWAY WITH LONGING 






























XII 

THE SESEMANN HOUSE IS HAUNTED 



OR several days Miss Rotten- 
meier had been wandering 
silently about the house. When 
she went from room to room 
or along the corridors, she 


would often glance back as if she were afraid 
that somebody was following her. If she 
had to go to the upper floor, where the 
gorgeous guest-rooms were, or to the lower 
story, where the big ball-room was situ¬ 
ated, she always told Tinette to come with 
her. The strange thing was, that none of 
the servants dared to go anywhere alone 
and always found an excuse to ask each 
other’s company, which requests were always 
granted. The cook, who had been in the 
house for many years, would often shake 
her head and mutter: “That I should live 
to see this!” 

Something strange and weird was happen- 





HEIDI 





ing in the house. Every morning, when the 
servants came down-stairs, they found the 
front door wide open. At first everybody 
had thought that the house must have been 
robbed, but nothing was missing. Every 
morning it was the same, despite the double 
locks that were put on the door. At last 
John and Sebastian, taking courage, pre¬ 
pared themselves to watch through a night 
to see who was the ghost. Armed and pro¬ 
vided with some strengthening liquor, they 
repaired to a room down-stairs. First they 
talked, but soon, getting sleepy, they leaned 
silently back in their chairs. When the clock 
from the old church tower struck one, Sebas¬ 
tian awoke and roused his comrade, which 
was no easy matter. At last, however, John 
was wide awake, and together they went out 
into the hall. The same moment a strong 
wind put out the light that John held in his 
hand. Rushing back, he nearly upset Se¬ 
bastian, who stood behind him, and pulling 
the butler back into the room, he locked the 
door in furious haste. When the light was 

154 



THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED 

lit again, Sebastian noticed that John was 
deadly pale and trembling like an aspen leaf. 
Sebastian, not having seen anything, asked 
anxiously: “What is the matter? What did 
you see?” 

“The door was open and a white form was 
on the stairs; it went up and was gone in a 
moment,” gasped John. Cold shivers ran 
down the butler’s back. They sat without 
moving till the morning came, and then, 
shutting the door, they went upstairs to re¬ 
port to the housekeeper what they had seen. 
The lady, who was waiting eagerly, heard 
the tale and immediately sat down to write 
to Mr. Sesemann. She told him that fright 
had paralyzed her fingers and that terrible 
things were happening in the house. Then 
followed a tale of the appearance of the 
ghost. Mr. Sesemann replied that he could 
not leave his business, and advised Miss 
Rottenmeier to ask his mother to come to 
stay with them, for Mrs. Sesemann would 
easily despatch the ghost. Miss Rotten¬ 
meier was offended with the tone of the let- 



<n 



1 1 






HEIDI 


ter, which did not seem to take her account 
seriously. Mrs. Sesemann also replied that 
she could not come, so the housekeeper 
decided to tell the children all about it. 
Clara, at the uncanny tale, immediately ex¬ 
claimed that she would not stay alone an¬ 
other moment and that she wished her father 
to come home. The housekeeper arranged 
to sleep with the frightened child, while 
Heidi, who did not know what ghosts were, 
was perfectly unmoved. Another letter 
was despatched to Mr. Sesemann, telling 
him that the excitement might have serious 
effects on his daughter’s delicate constitu¬ 
tion, and mentioning several misfortunes 
that might probably happen if he did not 
relieve the household from this terror. 

This brought Mr. Sesemann. Going to 
his daughter’s room after his arrival, he was 
overjoyed to see her as well as ever. Clara 
was also delighted to see her father. 

“What new tricks has the ghost played 
on you. Miss Rottenmeier?” asked Mr. Sese¬ 
mann with a twinkle in his eye. 



THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED 


“It is no joke, Mr. Sesemann,” replied 
the lady seriously. “I am sure you will not 
laugh tomorrow. Those strange events in¬ 
dicate that something secret and horrible 
has happened in this house in days gone by.” 

“Is that so? this is new to me,” remarked 
Mr. Sesemann. “But will you please not 
suspect my venerable ancestors? Please 
call Sebastian; I want to speak to him alone.” 

Mr. Sesemann knew that the two were 
not on good terms, so he said to the butler: 

“Come here, Sebastian, and tell me hon¬ 
estly, if you have played the ghost for Miss 
Rottenmeier’s pastime?” 

“No, upon my word, master; you must 
not think that,” replied Sebastian frankly. 
“I do not like it quite myself.” 

“Well, I’ll show you and John what ghosts 
look like by day. You ought to be ashamed 
of yourselves, strong young men like you! 
Now go at once to my old friend, Dr. Classen, 
and tell him to come to me at nine o’clock 
to-night. Tell him that I came from Paris 
especially to consult him, and that I want 

157 




HEIDI 


him to sit up all night with me. Do you 
understand me, Sebastian?” 

“Yes indeed! I shall do as you say, Mr. 
Sesemann.” Mr. Sesemann then went up 
to Clara’s room to quiet and comfort her. 

Punctually at nine o’clock the doctor ar¬ 
rived. Though his hair was grey, his face was 
still fresh, and his eyes were lively and kind. 
When he saw his friend, he laughed aloud 
and said: “ Well, well, you look pretty healthy 
for one who needs to be watched all night.” 

“Have patience, my old friend,” replied 
Mr. Sesemann. “I am afraid the person 
we have to sit up for will look worse, but 
first we must catch him.” 

“What? Then somebody is sick in this 
house? What do you mean?” 

“Far worse, doctor, far worse. A ghost 
is in the house. My house is haunted.” 

When the doctor laughed, Mr. Sesemann 
continued: “I call that sympathy; I wish my 
friend Miss Rottenmeier could hear you. She 
is convinced that an old Sesemann is wander¬ 
ing about, expiating some dreadful deed.” 

158 



THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED 


“How did she make his acquaintance ?’ 
asked the doctor, much amused. 

Mr. Sesemann then explained the circum¬ 
stances. He said that the matter was either 
a bad joke which an acquaintance of the 
servants was playing in his absence, or it 
was a gang of thieves, who, after intimidat¬ 
ing the people, would surely rob his house 
by and by. 

With these explanations they entered the 
room where the two servants had watched 
before. A few bottles of wine stood on the 
table and two bright candelabra shed a bril¬ 
liant light. Two revolvers were ready for 
emergencies. 

They left the door only partly open, for too 
much light might drive the ghost away. Then, 
sitting down comfortably, the two men 
passed their time by chatting, taking a sip 
now and then. 

“The ghost seems to have spied us and 
probably won’t come to-day,” said the doctor. 

“ We must have patience. It is supposed 
to come at one,” replied his friend. 

159 


HEIDI 


So they talked till one o’clock. Every¬ 
thing was quiet, and not a sound came from 
the street. Suddenly the doctor raised his 
finger. 

“Sh! Sesemann, don’t you hear some¬ 
thing?” 

While they both listened, the bar was un¬ 
fastened, the key was turned, and the door 
flew open. Mr. Sesemann seized his revol¬ 
ver. 

“You are not afraid, I hope?” said the 
doctor, getting up. 

“Better be cautious!” whispered Mr. Sese¬ 
mann, seizing the candelabrum in the other 
hand. The doctor followed with his revol¬ 
ver and the light, and so they went out into 
the hall. 

On the threshhold stood a motionless white 
form, lighted up by the moon. 

“Who is there?” thundered the doctor, 
approaching the figure. It turned and ut¬ 
tered a low shriek. There stood Heidi, with 
bare feet and in her white night-gown, 

looking bewildered at the bright light and 

160 



THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED 


the weapons. She was shaking with fear, while 
the two men were looking at her in amazement. 

“Sesemann, this seems to be your little 
water carrier,” said the doctor. 

“Child, what does this mean?” asked Mr. 
Sesemann. “What did you want to do? 
Why have you come down here?” 

Pale from fright, Heidi said: “I do not 
know.” 

The doctor came forward now. “Sese¬ 
mann, this case belongs to my field. Please 
go and sit down while I take her to bed.” 

Putting his revolver aside, he led the 
trembling child up-stairs. 

“Don’t be afraid; just be quiet! Every¬ 
thing is all right; don’t be frightened.” 

When they had arrived in Heidi’s room, 
the doctor put the little girl to bed, cover¬ 
ing her up carefully. Drawing a chair near 
the couch, he waited till Heidi had calmed 
down and had stopped trembling. Then 
taking her hand in his, he said kindly: “Now 
everything is all right again. Tell me where 

you wanted to go?” 

11 


161 


HEIDI 


“I did not want to go anywhere,” Heidi 
assured him; “I did not go myself, only I 
was there all of a sudden.” 

“Really! Tell me, what did you dream?” 

“Oh, I have the same dream every night. 
I always think I am with my grandfather 
again and can hear the fir-trees roar. I al¬ 
ways think how beautiful the stars must be, 
and then I open the door of the hut, and oh, 
it is so wonderful! But when I wake up I am 
always in Frankfurt.” Heidi had to fight 
the sobs that were rising in her throat. 

“Does your back or your head hurt you, 
child?” 

“No, but I feel as if a big stone was press¬ 
ing me here.” 

“As if you had eaten something that dis¬ 
agreed with you?” 

“Oh no, but as if I wanted to cry hard.” 

“So, and then you cry out, don’t you?” 

“Oh no, I must never do that, for Miss 
Rottenmeier has forbidden it.” 

“Then you swallow it down? Yes? Do 
you like to be here?” 


162 


THE HOUSE IS HAUNTED 


“Oh yes,” was the faint, uncertain reply. 

“Where did you live with your grand¬ 
father?” 

“Up on the Alp.” 

“But wasn’t it a little lonely there?” 

“Oh no, it was so beautiful!”—But Heidi 
could say no more. The recollection, the 
excitement of the night and all the restrained 
sorrow overpowered the child. The tears 
rushed violently from her eyes and she broke 
out into loud sobs. 

The doctor rose, and soothing her, said: 
“It won’t hurt to cry; you’ll go to sleep 
afterward, and when you wake up everything 
will come right.” Then he left the room. 

Joining his anxious friend down-stairs, he 
said: “Sesemann, the little girl is a sleep¬ 
walker, and has unconsciously scared your 
whole household. Besides, she is so home¬ 
sick that her little body has wasted away. 
We shall have to act quickly. The only 
remedy for her is to be restored to her na¬ 
tive mountain air. This is my prescription, 
and she must go tomorrow.” 

163 


,4f 





IV* 


HEIDI 


“What, sick, a sleep-walker, and wasted 
away in my house! Nobody even suspected 
it! You think I should send this child back 
in this condition, when she has come in good 
health? No, doctor, ask everything but that. 
Take her in hand and prescribe for her, but 
let her get well before I send her back.” 

“Sesemann,” the doctor replied seriously, 
“just think what you are doing. We cannot 
cure her with powders and pills. The child 
has not a strong constitution, and if you 
keep her here, she might never get well 
again. If you restore her to the bracing 
mountain air to which she is accustomed, 
she probably will get perfectly well again.” 

When Mr. Sesemann heard this he said, 
“If that is your advice, we must act at once; 
this is the only way then.” With these words 
Mr. Sesemann took his friend’s arm and 
walked about with him to talk the matter over. 
When everything was settled, the doctor took 
his leave, for the morning had already come 
and the sun was shining in through the door. 


XIII 

UP THE ALP ON A SUMMER 
EVENING 



JR. SESEMANN, going up¬ 
stairs in great agitation, 
knocked at the housekeeper’s 
door. He asked her to hurry, 
for preparations for a jour¬ 
ney had to be made. Miss Rottenmeier 
obeyed the summons with the greatest in¬ 
dignation, for it was only half-past four in 
the morning. She dressed in haste, though 
with great difficulty, being nervous and ex¬ 
cited. All the other servants were sum¬ 
moned likewise, and one and all thought that 
the master of the house had been seized by 
the ghost and that he was ringing for help. 
When they had all come down with terrified 
looks, they were most surprised to see Mr. 
Sesemann fresh and cheerful, giving orders. 
John was sent to get the horses ready and 
Tinette was told to prepare Heidi for her de- 








HEIDI 


parture while Sebastian was commissioned to 
fetch Heidi’s aunt. Mr. Sesemann instructed 
the housekeeper to pack a trunk in all haste 
for Heidi. 

Miss Rottenmeier experienced an extreme 
disappointment, for she had hoped for an 
explanation of the great mystery. But Mr. 
Sesemann, evidently not in the mood to 
converse further, went to his daughter’s 
room. Clara had been wakened by the un¬ 
usual noises and was listening eagerly. Her 
father told her of what had happened and 
how the doctor had ordered Heidi back to 
her home, because her condition was serious 
and might get worse. She might even climb 
the roof, or be exposed to similar dangers, if 
she was not cured at once. 

Clara was painfully surprised and tried to 
prevent her father from carrying out his 
plan. He remained firm, however, promis¬ 
ing to take her to Switzerland himself the 
following summer, if she was good and sen¬ 
sible now. So the child, resigning herself, 

begged to have Heidi’s trunk packed in her 
166 



ON A SUMMER EVENING 


room. Mr. Sesemann encouraged her to get 
together a good outfit for her little friend. 

Heidi’s aunt had arrived in the meantime. 
Being told to take her niece home with her, 
she found no end of excuses, which plainly 
showed that she did not want to do it; for 
Deta well remembered the uncle’s parting 
words. Mr. Sesemann dismissed her and 
summoned Sebastian, The butler was told 
to get ready for travelling with the child. 
He was to go to Basle that day and spend 
the night at a good hotel which his master 
named. The next day the child was to be 
brought to her home. 

“ Listen, Sebastian,” Mr. Sesemann said, 
“and do exactly as I tell you. I know the 
Hotel in Basle, and if you show my card 
they will give you good accommodations. 
Go to the child’s room and barricade the 
windows, so that they can only be opened 
by the greatest force. When Heidi has gone 
to bed, lock the door from outside, for the 
child walks in her sleep and might come to 
harm in the strange hotel. She might get 

167 


HEIDI 


up and open the door; do you understand?” 

“Oh!— Oh!— So it was she?” exclaimed 
the butler. 

“Yes, it was! You are a coward, and you 
can tell John he is the same. Such foolish 
men, to be afraid!” With that Mr. Sese- 
mann went to his room to write a letter to 
Heidi’s grandfather. 

Sebastian, feeling ashamed, said to him¬ 
self that he ought to have resisted John and 
found out alone. 

Heidi was dressed in her Sunday frock 
and stood waiting for further commands. 

Mr. Sesemann called her now. “Good- 
morning, Mr. Sesemann,” Heidi said when 
she entered. 

“What do you think about it, little one?” 
he asked her. Heidi looked up to him in 
amazement. 

“You don’t seem to know anything about 
it,” laughed Mr. Sesemann. Tinette had 
not even told the child, for she thought it 
beneath her dignity to speak to the vulgar 
Heidi. 

168 



ON A SUMMER EVENING 


“You are going home to-day.” 

“Home?” Heidi repeated in a low voice. 
She had to gasp, so great was her surprise. 

“Wouldn’t you like to hear something 
about it?” asked Mr. Sesemann smiling. 

“Oh yes, I should like to,” said the blush¬ 
ing child. 

“Good, good,” said the kind gentleman. 
“Sit down and eat a big breakfast now, for 
you are going away right afterwards.” 

The child could not even swallow a morsel, 
though she tried to eat out of obedience. 
It seemed to her as if it was only a dream. 

“Go to Clara, Heidi, till the carriage 
comes,” Mr. Sesemann said kindly. 

Heidi had been wishing to go, and now 
she ran to Clara’s room, where a huge trunk 
was standing. 

“Heidi, look at the things I had packed 
for you. Do you like them?” Clara asked. 

There were a great many lovely things 
in it, but Heidi jumped for joy when she 
discovered a little basket with twelve round 
white rolls for the grandmother. The chib 


HEIDI 


dren had forgotten that the moment for 
parting had come, when the carriage was 
announced. Heidi had to get all her own 
treasures from her room yet. The grand- 
mama’s book was carefully packed, and the 
red shawl that Miss Rottenmeier had pur¬ 
posely left behind. Then putting on her 
pretty hat, she left her room to say good¬ 
bye to Clara. There was not much time 
left to do so, for Mr. Sesemann w T as waiting 
to put Heidi in the carriage. When Miss 
Rottenmeier, who was standing on the stairs 
to bid farewell to her pupil, saw the red 
bundle in Heidi’s hand, she seized it and 
threw it on the ground. Heidi looked im¬ 
ploringly at her kind protector, and Mr. 
Sesemann, seeing how much she treasured 
it, gave it back to her. The happy child at 
parting thanked him for all his goodness. 
She also sent a message of thanks to the 
good old doctor, whom she suspected to be 
the real cause of her going. 

While Heidi was being lifted into the car¬ 
riage, Mr. Sesemann assured her that Clara 

170 



ON A SUMMER EVENING 


and he would never forget her. Sebastian 
followed with Heidi’s basket and a large 
bag with provisions. Mr. Sesemann called 
out: “Happy journey!” and the carriage 
rolled away. 

Only when Heidi was sitting in the train 
did she become conscious of where she was 
going. She knew now that she would really 
see her grandfather and the grandmother 
again, also Peter and the goats. Her only 
fear was that the poor blind grandmother 
might have died while she was away. 

The thing she looked forward to most was 
giving the soft white rolls to the grand¬ 
mother. While she was musing over all 
these things, she fell asleep. In Basle she 
was roused by Sebastian, for there they were 
to spend the night. 

The next morning they started off again, 
and it took them many hours before they 
reached Mayenfeld. When Sebastian stood 
on the platform of the station, he wished 
he could have travelled further in the train 
rather than have to climb a mountain. The 



HEIDI 


last part of the trip might be dangerous, 
for everything seemed half-wild in this 
country. Looking round, he discovered a 
small wagon with a lean horse. A broad- 
shouldered man was just loading up large 
bags, which had come by the train. Se¬ 
bastian, approaching the man, asked some 
information concerning the least dangerous 
ascent to the Alp. After a while it was set¬ 
tled that the man should take Heidi and 
her trunk to the village and see to it that 
somebody would go up with her from there. 

Not a word had escaped Heidi, until she 
now said, “I can go up alone from the vil¬ 
lage. I know the road.” Sebastian felt re¬ 
lieved, and calling Heidi to him, presented 
her with a heavy roll of bills and a let¬ 
ter for the grandfather. These precious 
things were put at the bottom of the basket, 
under the rolls, so that they could not possi¬ 
bly get lost. 

Heidi promised to be careful of them, and 
was lifted up to the cart. The two old 
friends shook hands and parted, and Sebas- 



ON A SUMMER EVENING 


tian, with a slightly bad conscience for hav¬ 
ing deserted the child so soon, sat down on 
the station to wait for a returning train. 

The driver was no other than the village 
baker, who had never seen Heidi but had 
heard a great deal about her. He had 
known her parents and immediately guessed 
she was the child who had lived with the 
Aim-Uncle. Curious to know why she 
came home again, he began a conversation. 

“Are you Heidi, the child who lived with 
the Aim-Uncle?” 

“Yes.” 

“Why are you coming home again? Did 
you get on badly?” 

“Oh no; nobody could have got on better 
than I did in Frankfurt.” 

“Then why are you coming back?” 

“Because Mr. Sesemann let me come.” 

“Pooh! why didn’t you stay?” 

“Because I would rather be with my 
grandfather on the Alp than anywhere on 
earth.” 

“You may think differently when you get 

173 


HEIDI 


there,” muttered the baker. “It is strange 
though, for she must know,” he said to him¬ 
self. 

They conversed no more, and Heidi began 
to tremble with excitement when she recog¬ 
nized all the trees on the road and the lofty 
peaks of the mountains. Sometimes she 
felt as if she could not sit still any longer, 
but had to jump down and run wjth all her 
might. They arrived at the village at the 
stroke of five. Immediately a large group 
of women and children surrounded the cart, 
for the trunk and the little passenger had 
attracted everybody’s notice. When Heidi 
had been lifted down, she found herself held 
and questioned on all sides. But when they 
saw how' frightened she w T as, they let her go 
at last. The baker had to tell of Heidi’s 
arrival with the strange gentleman, and as¬ 
sured all the people that Heidi loved her 
grandfather with all her heart, let the people 
say what they would about him. 

Heidi, in the meantime, was running up 
the path; from time to time she was obliged 

174 



ON A SUMMER EVENING 


to stop, for her basket was heavy and she 
lost her breath. Her one idea was: “If only 
grandmother still sits in her corner by her 
spinning wheel!—Oh, if she should have 
died!” When the child caught sight of the 
hut at last, her heart began to beat. The 
quicker she ran, the more it beat, but at 
last she tremblingly opened the door. She 
ran into the middle of the room, unable to 
utter one tone, she was so out of breath. 

“Oh God,” it sounded from one corner, 
“our Heidi used to come in like that. Oh, 
if I just could have her again with me before 
I die. W'ho has come?” 

“Here I am! grandmother, here I am!” 
shouted the child, throwing herself on her 
knees before the old woman. She seized her 
hands and arms and snuggling up to her did 
not for joy utter one more word. The grand¬ 
mother had been so surprised that she could 
only silently caress the child’s curly hair 
over and over again. “Yes, yes,” she said 
at last, “this is Heidi’s hair, and her be¬ 
loved voice. Oh my God, I thank Thee 

175 


HEIDI 


for this happiness.” Out of her blind eyes 
big tears of joy fell down on Heidi’s hand. 
“Is it really you, Heidi? Have you really 
come again?” 

“Yes, yes, grandmother,” the child re¬ 
plied. “You must not cry, for I have come 
and will never leave you any more. Now 
you won’t have to eat hard black bread any 
more for a little while. Look what I have 
brought you.” 

Heidi put one roll after another into the 
grandmother’s lap. 

“Ah, child, what a blessing you bring to 
me!” the old woman cried. “But you are 
my greatest blessing yourself, Heidi!” Then, 
caressing the child’s hair and flushed cheeks, 
she entreated: “Just say one more word, 
that I may hear your voice.” 

While Heidi was talking, Peter’s mother 
arrived, and exclaimed in her amazement: 
“ Surely, this is Heidi. But how can that be?” 

The child rose to shake hands with Bri- 
gida, who could not get over Heidi’s splen¬ 
did frock and hat. 



ON A SUMMER EVENING 


“You can have my hat, I don’t want it 
any more; I have my old one still,” Heidi 
said, pulling out her old crushed straw hat. 
Heidi had remembered her grandfather’s 
words to Deta about her feather hat; that 
was why she had kept her old hat so carefully. 
Brigida at last accepted the gift after a 
great many remonstrances. Suddenly Heidi 
took off her pretty dress and tied her old 
shawl about her. Taking the grandmother’s 
hand, she said: “Good-bye, I must go 
home to grandfather now, but I shall come 
again tomorrow. Good-night, grandmother.” 

“ Oh, please come again to-morrow, Heidi,” 
implored the old woman, while she held her fast. 

“Why did you take your pretty dress off?” 
asked Brigida. 

“I’d rather go to grandfather that way, 
or else he might not know me any more, 
the way you did.” 

Brigida accompanied the child outside 
and said mysteriously: “He would have 
known you in your frock; you ought to 
have kept it on. Please be careful, child, 

12 177 


HEIDI 


for Peter tells us that the uncle never says 
a word to anyone and always seems so an¬ 
gry.” But Heidi was unconcerned, and say¬ 
ing good-night, climbed up the path with 
the basket on her arm. The evening sun 
was shining down on the grass before her. 
Every few minutes Heidi stood still to look 
at the mountains behind her. Suddenly she 
looked back and beheld such glory as she 
had not even seen in her most vivid dream. 
The rocky peaks were flaming in the bril¬ 
liant light, the snow-fields glowed and rosy 
clouds were floating overhead. The grass 
was like an expanse of gold, and below her 
the valley swam in golden mist. The child 
stood still, and in her joy and transport 
tears ran down her cheeks. She folded her 
hands, and looking up to heaven, thanked 
the Lord that He had brought her home 
again. She thanked Him for restoring her 
to her beloved mountains,—in her happi¬ 
ness she could hardly find words to pray. 
Only when the glow had subsided, was Heidi 
able to follow the path again. 



THROWING HERSELF IN HER GRANDFATHER S ARMS, SHE HELD HIM TIGHT 













ON A SUMMER EVENING 

She climbed so fast that she could soon 
discover, first the tree-tops, then the roof, 
finally the hut. Now she could see her 
grandfather sitting on his bench, smoking 
a pipe. Above the cottage the fir-trees 
gently swayed and rustled in the evening 
breeze. At last she had reached the hut, 
and throwing herself in her grandfather’s 
arms, she hugged him and held him tight. 
She could say nothing but “Grandfather! 
grandfather! grandfather!” in her agitation. 

The old man said nothing either, but his 
eyes were moist, and loosening Heidi’s arms 
at last, he sat her on his knee. When he 
had looked at her a while, he said: “So you 
have come home again, Heidi? Why? You 
certainly do not look very cityfied! Did 
they send you away?” 

“Oh no, you must not think that, grand¬ 
father. They all were so good to me; Clara, 
Mr. Sesemann and grandmama. But grand¬ 
father, sometimes I felt as if I could not 
bear it any longer to be away from you! 
I thought I should choke; I could not tell 



♦ +L 
+ 9 . 


VI 1C* 


At 



,'M ' ~ 'i 






4 


HEIDI 


any one, for that would have been ungrate¬ 
ful. Suddenly, one morning Mr. Sesemann 
called me very early, I think it was the doc¬ 
tor’s fault and—but I think it is probably 
written in this letter;” with that Heidi 
brought the letter and the bank-roll from 
her basket, putting them on her grand¬ 
father’s lap. 

“This belongs to you,” he said, laying the 
roll beside him. Having read the letter, he 
put it in his pocket. 

“ Do you think you can still drink milk with 
me, Heidi?” he asked, while he stepped into 
the cottage. “Take your money with you, 
you can buy a bed for it and clothes for 
many years.” 

“I don’t need it at all, grandfather,” Heidi 
assured him; “I have a bed and Clara has 
given me so many dresses that I shan’t need 
any more all my life.” 

“Take it and put it in the cupboard, for 
you will need it some day.” 

Heidi obeyed, and danced around the hut 

in her delight to see all the beloved things 
180 





ON A SUMMER EVENING 


again. Running up to the loft, she exclaimed 
in great disappointment: “Oh grandfather, 
my bed is gone” 

“It will come again,” the grandfather 
called up from below; “how could I know that 
you were coming back? Get your milk now!” 

Heidi, coming down, took her old seat. 
She seized her bowl and emptied it eagerly, 
as if it was the most wonderful thing she 
had eveF tasted. “Grandfather, our milk 
is the best in all the world.” 

Suddenly Heidi, hearing a shrill whistle, 
rushed outside, as Peter and all his goats came 
racing down. Heidi greeted the boy, who 
stopped, rooted to the spot, staring at her. 
Then she ran into the midst of her beloved 
friends, who had not forgotten her either. 
Schwanli and Barli bleated for joy, and all 
her other favorites pressed near to her. Heidi 
was beside herself with joy, and caressed little 
Snowhopper and patted Thistlefinch, till she 
felt herself pushed to and fro among them. 

“Peter, why don’t you come down and say 

good-night to me?” Heidi called to the boy. 

181 


HEIDI 


“Have you come again?” he exclaimed 
at last. Then he took Heidi’s proffered hand 
and asked her, as if she had been always there: 
“Are you coming up with me to-morrow?” 

“No, to-morrow I must go to grandmother, 
but perhaps the day after.” 

Peter had a hard time with his goats that 
day, for they would not follow him. Over 
and over again they came back to Heidi, 
till she entered the shed with Barli and 
Schwanli and shut the door. 

When Heidi went up to her loft to sleep, 
she found a fresh, fragrant bed waiting for 
her; and she slept better that night than 
she had for many, many months, for her 
great and burning longing had been satisfied. 
About ten times that night the grandfather 
rose from his couch to listen to Heidi’s quiet 
breathing. The window was filled up with 
hay, for from now on the moon was not 
allowed to shine on Heidi any more. But 
Heidi slept quietly, for she had seen the 
flaming mountains and had heard the fir- 
trees roar. 

182 



XIV 

ON SUNDAY WHEN THE CHURCH 
BELLS RING 


I was standing under the 
ydng fir-trees, waiting for 
grandfather to join her. 
had promised to bring up 
trunk from the village 
while she went in to visit the grandmother. 
The child was longing to see the blind woman 
again and to hear how she had liked the rolls. 

It was Saturday, and the grandfather had 
been cleaning the cottage. Soon he was 
ready to start. When they had descended 
and Heidi entered Peter’s hut, the grand¬ 
mother called lovingly to her: “Have you 
come again, child?” 

She took hold of Heidi’s hand and held 
it tight. Grandmother then told the little 
visitor how good the rolls had tasted, and 
how much stronger she felt already. Bri- 
gida related further that the grandmother 

183 






HEIDI 


had only eaten a single roll, being so afraid 
to finish them too soon. Heidi had listened 
attentively, and said now: “Grandmother, 
I know what I shall do. I am going to 
write to Clara and she’ll surely send me a 
whole lot more.” 

But Brigida remarked: “That is meant 
well, but they get hard so soon. If I only 
had a few extra pennies, I could buy some 
from our baker. He makes them too, but 
I am hardly able to pay for the black bread. ” 

Heidi’s face suddenly shone. “Oh, grand¬ 
mother, I have an awful lot of money,” she 
cried. “Now I know what I’ll do with it. 
Every day you must have a fresh roll and 
two on Sundays. Peter can bring them up 
from the village.” 

“No, no, child,” the grandmother im¬ 
plored. “That must not be. You must 
give it to grandfather and he’ll tell you what 
to do with it.” 

But Heidi did not listen but jumped gaily 
about the little room, calling over and over 
again: “Now grandmother can have a roll 

184 








WHEN CHURCH BELLS RING 


every day. She’ll get well and strong, and,” 
she called with fresh delight, “maybe your 
eyes will see again, too, when you are strong 
and well.” 

The grandmother remained silent, not to 
mar the happiness of the child. Seeing the 
old hymn-book on the shelf, Heidi said: 

“Grandmother, shall I read you a song 
from your book now? I can read quite 
nicely!” she added after a pause. 

“Oh yes, I wish you would, child. Can 
you really read?” 

Heidi, climbing on a chair, took down the 
dusty book from a shelf. After she had 
carefully wiped it off, she sat down on a 
stool. 

“What shall I read, grandmother?” 

“Whatever you want to,” was the reply. 
Turning the pages, Heidi found a song about 
the sun, and decided to read that aloud. 
More and more eagerly she read, while the 
grandmother, with folded arms, sat in her 
chair. An expression of indescribable happi¬ 
ness shone in her countenance, though tears 

185 







HEIDI 


were rolling down her cheeks. When Heidi 
had repeated the end of the song a number 
of times, the old woman exclaimed: “Oh, 
Heidi, everything seems bright to me again 
and my heart is light. Thank you, child, 
you have done me so much good.” 

Heidi looked enraptured at the grand¬ 
mother’s face, which had changed from an 
old, sorrowful expression to a joyous one. 

She seemed to look up gratefully, as if 
she could already behold the lovely, celes¬ 
tial gardens told of in the hymn. 

Soon the grandfather knocked on the win¬ 
dow, for it was time to go. Heidi followed 
quickly, assuring the grandmother that she 
would visit her every day now; on the days 
she went up to the pasture with Peter, she 
would return in the early afternoon, for she 
did not want to miss the chance to make 
the grandmother’s heart joyful and light. 
Brigida urged Heidi to take her dress along, 
and with it on her arm the child joined the 
old man and immediately told him what 
had happened. 

186 



* , ***** 


WHEN CHURCH BELLS RING 


On hearing of her plan to purchase rolls 
for the grandmother every day, the grand¬ 
father reluctantly consented. 

At this the child gave a bound, shouting: 
“Oh grandfather, now grandmother won’t 
ever have to eat hard, black bread any more. 
Oh, everything is so wonderful now! If God 
Our Father had done immediately what I 
prayed for, I should have come home at 
once and could not have brought half as 
many rolls to grandmother. I should not 
have been able to read either. Grandmama 
told me that God would make everything 
much better than I could ever dream. I 
shall always pray from now on, the way 
grandmama taught me. When God does 
not give me something I pray for, I shall 
always remember how everything has worked 
out for the best this time. We’ll pray every 
day, grandfather, won’t we, for otherwise 
God might forget us.” 

“And if somebody should forget to do 
it?” murmured the old man. 

“Oh, he’ll get on badly, for God will for- 


HEIDI 


get him, too. If he is unhappy and wretched, 
people don’t pity him, for they will say: 4 he 
went away from God, and now the Lord, 
who alone can help him, has no pity on 
him’.” 

“Is that true, Heidi? Who told you so?” 

“Grandmama explained it all to me.” 

After a pause the grandfather said: “Yes, 
but if it has happened, then there is no 
help; nobody can come back to the Lord, 
when God has once forgotten him.” 

“But grandfather, everybody can come 
back to Him; grandmama told me that, and 
besides there is the beautiful story in my 
book. Oh, grandfather, you don’t know it 
yet, and I shall read it to you as soon as we 
get home.” 

The grandfather had brought a big bas¬ 
ket with him, in which he carried half the 
contents of Heidi’s trunk; it had been too 
large to be conveyed up the steep ascent. 
Arriving at the hut and setting down his 
load, he had to sit beside Heidi, who was 

ready to begin the tale. With great anima- 
188 




WHEN CHURCH BELLS RING 


tion Heidi read the story of the prodigal 
son, who was happy at home with his father’s 
cows and sheep. The picture showed him 
leaning on his staff, watching the sunset. 
“Suddenly he wanted to have his own in¬ 
heritance, and be able to be his own mas¬ 
ter. Demanding the money from his father, 
he went away and squandered all. When 
he had nothing in the world left, he had 
to go as servant to a peasant, who did not 
own fine cattle like his father, but only 
swine; his clothes were rags, and for food 
he only got the husks on which the pigs 
were fed. Often he would think what a 
good home he had left, and when he remem¬ 
bered how good his father had been to him 
and his own ungratefulness, he would cry 
from repentance and longing. Then he said 
to himself: ‘I shall go to my father and 
ask his forgiveness.’ When he approached 
his former home, his father came out to 
meet him—” 

“What do you think will happen now?” 
Heidi asked. “You think that the father 





HEIDI 


is angry and will say: ‘Didn’t I tell you?’ 
But just listen: ‘And his father saw him 
and had compassion and ran and fell on 
his neck. And the son said: Father, I have 
sinned against Heaven and in Thy sight, 
and am no more worthy to be called Thy 
son. But the father said to his servants: 
Bring forth the best robe and put it on 
him; and put a ring on his hand and shoes 
on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf 
and kill it; and let us eat and be merry: 
For this my son was dead and is alive again; 
he was lost, and is found.’ And they began 
to be merry.” 

“Isn’t it a beautiful story, grandfather?” 
asked Heidi, when he sat silently beside her. 

“Yes, Heidi, it is,” said the grandfather, 
but so seriously that Heidi quietly looked 
at the pictures. “Look how happy he is,” 
she said, pointing to it. 

A few hours later, when Heidi was sleep¬ 
ing soundly, the old man climbed up the 
ladder. Placing a little lamp beside the 
sleeping child, he watched her a long, long 

190 




WHEN CHURCH BELLS RING 


time. Her little hands were folded and her 
rosy face looked confident and peaceful. 
The old man now folded his hands and said 
in a low voice, while big tears rolled down 
his cheeks: “Father, I have sinned against 
Heaven and Thee, and am no more worthy 
to be Thy son!” 

The next morning found the uncle stand¬ 
ing before the door, looking about him over 
valley and mountain. A few early bells 
sounded from below and the birds sang 
their morning anthems. 

Re-entering the house, he called: “Heidi, 
get up! The sun is shining! Put on a 
pretty dress, for we are going to church!” 

That was a new call, and Heidi obeyed 
quickly. When the child came downstairs 
in her smart little frock, she opened her 
eyes wide. “Oh, grandfather!” she ex¬ 
claimed, “I have never seen you in your 
Sunday coat with the silver buttons. Oh, 
how fine you look!” 

The old man, turning to the child, said 
with a smile: “You look nice, too; come 


HEIDI 




\ 


now!” With Heidi’s hand in his they wan¬ 
dered down together. The nearer they came 
to the village, the louder and richer the 
bells resounded. “Oh grandfather, do you 
hear it? It seems like a big, high feast,” 
said Heidi. 

When they entered the church, all the 
people were singing. Though they sat down 
on the last bench behind, the people had 
noticed their presence and whispered it 
from ear to ear. When the pastor began 
to preach, his words were a loud thanks¬ 
giving that moved all his hearers. After 
the service the old man and the child 
walked to the parsonage. The clergyman 
had opened the door and received them with 
friendly words. “I have come to ask your 
forgiveness for my harsh words,” said the 
uncle. “I want to follow your advice to 
spend the winter here among you. If the 
people look at me askance, I can’t expect 
any better. I am sure, Mr. Pastor, you 
will not do so.” 

The pastor’s friendly eyes sparkled, and 


WITH 


HEIDI'S HAND IX MIS THEY WANDERED DOWX TOGETHER 











WHEN CHURCH BELLS RING 


with many a kind word he commended the 
uncle for this change, and putting his band 
on Heidi’s curly hair, ushered them out. 
Thus the people, who had been all talking 
together about this great event, could see 
that their clergyman shook hands with the 
old man. The door of the parsonage was 
hardly shut, when the whole assembly came 
forward with outstretched hands and 
friendly greetings. Great seemed to be 
their joy at the old man’s resolution; some 
of the people even accompanied him on his 
homeward way. When they had parted at 
last, the uncle looked after them with his 
face shining as with an inward light. Heidi 
looked up to him and said: “Grandfather, 
you have never looked so beautiful!” 

“Do you think so, child?” he said with a 
smile. “You see, Heidi, I am more happy 
than I deserve; to be at peace with God 
and men makes one’s heart feel light. God 
has been good to me, to send you back.” 

When they arrived at Peter’s hut, the 
grandfather opened the door and entered. 

13 193 



kk 



HEIDI 


“How do you do, grandmother,” he called 
out. “I think we must start to mend again, 
before the fall wind comes.” 

“Oh my God, the uncle!” exclaimed the 
grandmother in joyous surprise. “How 
happy I am to be able to thank you for 
what you have done, uncle! Thank you, 
God bless you for it.” 

With trembling joy the grandmother 
shook hands with her old friend. “There 
is something else I want to say to you, 
uncle,” she continued. “If I have ever 
hurt you in any way, do not punish me. 
Do not let Heidi go away again before I 
die. I cannot tell you what Heidi means 
to me!” So saying, she held the clinging 
child to her. 

“No danger of that, grandmother, I hope 
we shall all stay together now for many 
years to come.” 

Brigida now showed Heidi’s feather hat 
to the old man and asked him to take it 
back. But the uncle asked her to keep it, 
since Heidi had given it to her. 


194 





WHEN CHURCH BELLS RING 


“What blessings this child has brought 
from Frankfurt,” Brigida said. “I often 
wondered if I should not send our little 
Peter too. What do you think, uncle?” 

The uncle’s eyes sparkled with fun, when 
he replied: “I am sure it would not hurt 
Peter; nevertheless I should wait for a fit¬ 
ting occasion before I sent him.” 

The next moment Peter himself arrived 
in great haste. He had a letter for Heidi, 
which had been given to him in the village. 
What an event, a letter for Heidi! They 
all sat down at the table while the child 
read it aloud. The letter was from Clara 
Sesemann, who wrote that everything had 
got so dull since Heidi left. She said that 
she could not stand it very long, and there¬ 
fore her father had promised to take her to 
Ragatz this coming fall. She announced 
that Grandmama was coming too, for she 
wanted to see Heidi and her grandfather. 
Grandmama, having heard about the rolls, 
was sending some coffee, too, so that the 
grandmother would not have to eat them 










HEIDI 


dry. Grandmama also insisted on being 
taken to the grandmother herself when she 
came on her visit. 

Great was the delight caused by this news, 
and what with all the questions and plans 
that followed, the grandfather himself for¬ 
got how late it was. This happy day, which 
had united them all, caused the old woman 
to say at parting: “ The most beautiful 
thing of all, though, is to be able to shake 
hands again with an old friend, as in days 
gone by; it is a great comfort to find again, 
what we have treasured. I hope you’ll come 
soon .again, uncle. I am counting on the 
child for tomorrow.” 

This promise was given. While Heidi and 
her grandfather were on their homeward 
path, the peaceful sound of evening bells 
accompanied them. At last they reached 
the cottage, which seemed to glow in the 
evening light. 



Part II 

Heidi Makes Use of Her Experience 


4 


















XV 

PREPARATIONS FOR A JOURNEY 




HE kind doctor who had sent 
Heidi home to her beloved 
mountains was approaching 
the Sesemann residence on 
a sunny day in September. 



Everything about him was bright and cheer¬ 
ful, but the doctor did not even raise his 
eyes from the pavement to the blue sky 
above. His face was sad and his hair had 
turned very gray since spring. A few 
months ago the doctor had lost his only 
daughter, who had lived with him since his 
wife’s early death. The bloo™ 1 *"" rpl ‘ T ' 1 
been his only joy, and since 
from him the ever-cheerful 
bowed down with grief. 

When Sebastian opened th 
physician he bowed very low 
tor made friends wherever h< 

“I am glad you have come 
Sesemann called to his friend 



199 







HEIDI 


“Please let us talk over this trip to Switzer¬ 
land again. Do you still give the same 
advice, now that Clara is so much better?” 

“What must I think of you, Sesemann?” 
replied the doctor, sitting down. “I wish 
your mother was here. Everything is clear 
to her and things go smoothly then. This 
is the third time to-day that you have 
called me, and always for the same thing!” 

“It is true, it must make you impatient,” 
said Mr. Sesemann. Laying his hand on 
his friend’s shoulder, he continued: “I can¬ 
not say how hard it is for me to refuse Clara 
this trip. Haven’t I promised it to her and 
hasn’t she looked forward to it for months? 
She has borne all her suffering so patiently, 
just because she had hoped to be able to 
visit her little friend on the Alp. I hate to 
rob her of this pleasure. The poor child has 
so many trials and so little change.” 

“But, Sesemann, you must do it,” was 
the doctor’s answer. When his friend re¬ 
mained silent, he continued: “Just think 
what a hard summer Clara has had! She 


PREPARATIONS FOR A JOURNEY 


never was more ill and we could not attempt 
this journey without risking the worst con¬ 
sequences. Remember, we are in Septem¬ 
ber now, and though the weather may still 
be fine on the Alp, it is sure to be very cool. 
The days are getting short, and she could 
only spend a few hours up there, if she had 
to return for the night. It would take sev¬ 
eral hours to have her carried up from 
Ragatz. You see yourself how impossible it 
is! I shall come in with you, though, to talk 
to Clara, and you’ll find her sensible. I’ll tell 
you of my plan for next May. First she can 
go to Ragatz to take the baths. When it gets 
warm on the mountain, she can be carried up 
from time to time. She’ll be stronger then and 
much more able to enjoy those excursions 
than she is now. If we hope for an improve¬ 
ment in her condition, we must be extremely 
cautious and careful, remember that!” 

Mr. Sesemann, who had been listening 
with the utmost submission, now said anxi¬ 
ously: “Doctor, please tell me honestly if 
you still have hope left for any change?” 


y 


HEIDI 


With shrugging shoulders the doctor re¬ 
plied: “Not very much. But think of me, 
Sesemann! Have you not a child, who 
loves you and always welcomes you? You 
don’t have to come back to a lonely house 
and sit down alone at your table. Your 
child is well taken care of, and if she has 
many privations, she also has many advan¬ 
tages. Sesemann, you do not need to be 
pitied! Just think of my lonely home!” 

Mr. Sesemann had gotten up and was walk¬ 
ing round the room, as he always did when 
something occupied his thoughts. Suddenly 
he stood before his friend and said: “Doctor, 
I have an idea. I cannot see you sad any 
longer. You must get away. You shall un¬ 
dertake this trip and visit Heidi in our stead.” 

The doctor had been surprised by this 
proposal, and tried to object. But Mr. Sese¬ 
mann was so full of his new project that he 
pulled his friend with him into his daughter’s 
room, not leaving him time for any remon¬ 
strances. Clara loved the doctor, who had 
always tried to cheer her up on his visits 


PREPARATIONS FOR A JOURNEY 


by bright and funny tales. She was sorry 
for the change that had come over him and 
would have given much to see him happy 
again. When he had shaken hands with her, 
both men pulled up their chairs to Clara’s bed¬ 
side. Mr. Sesemann began to speak of their 
journey and how sorry he was to give it up. 
Then he quickly began to talk of his new plan. 

Clara’s eyes had filled with tears. But she 
knew that her father did not like to see her 
cry, and besides she w T as sure that her papa 
would only forbid her this pleasure because 
it was absolutely necessary to do so. 

So she bravely fought her tears, and caress¬ 
ing the doctor’s hand, said: 

“Oh please, doctor, do go to Heidi; then 
you can tell me all about her, and can de¬ 
scribe her grandfather to me, and Peter, with 
his goats,— I seem to know them all so well. 
Then you can take all the things to her that 
I had planned to take myself. Oh, please 
doctor, go, and then I’ll be good and take as 
much cod-liver oil as ever you want me to.” 

Who can tell if this promise decided the 


HEIDI 



doctor? At any rate he answered with a 
smile: “Then I surely must go, Clara, for you 
will get fat and strong, as we both want to see 
you. Have you settled yet when I must go?” 

“Oh, you had better go tomorrow morn¬ 
ing, doctor,” Clara urged. 

“She is right,” the father assented; “the 
sun is shining and you must not lose any 
more glorious days on the Alp.” 

The doctor had to laugh. “Why don’t 
you chide me for being here still? I shall 
go as quickly as I can, Sesemann.” 

Clara gave many messages to him for 
Heidi. She also told him to be sure to ob¬ 
serve everything closely, so that he would 
be able to tell her all about it when he came 
back. The things for Heidi were to be sent 
to him later, for Miss Rottenmeier, who 
had to pack them, was out on one of her 
lengthy wanderings about town. 

The doctor promised to comply with all 
Clara’s wishes and to start the following day. 

Clara rang for the maid and said to her, 
when she arrived: “Please, Tinette, pack a 




PREPARATIONS FOR A JOURNEY 


lot of fresh, soft coffee-cake in this box.” 
A box had been ready for this purpose 
many days. When the maid was leaving the 
room she murmured: “That’s a silly bother!” 

Sebastian, who had happened to over¬ 
hear some remarks, asked the physician 
when he was leaving to take his regards to 
the little Miss, as he called Heidi. 

With a promise to deliver this message 
the doctor was just hastening out, when he 
encountered an obstacle. Miss Rotten- 
meier, who had been obliged to return from 
her walk on account of the strong wind, 
was just coming in. She wore a large cape, 
which the wind was blowing about her like 
two full sails. Both had retreated politely 
to give way to each other. Suddenly the 
wind seemed to carry the housekeeper 
straight towards the doctor, who had barely 
time to avoid her. This little incident, 
which had ruffled Miss Rottenmeier’s tem¬ 
per very much, gave the doctor occasion to 
soothe her, as she liked to be soothed by 
this man, whom she respected more than 


HEIDI 


anybody in the world. Telling her of his 
intended visit, he entreated her to pack the 
things for Heidi as only she knew how. 

Clara had expected some resistance from 
Miss Rottenmeier about the packing of her 
presents. What was her surprise when this 
lady showed herself most obliging, and im¬ 
mediately, on being told, brought together 
all the articles! First came a heavy coat 
for Heidi, with a hood, which Clara meant 
her to use on visits to the grandmother in 
the winter. Then came a thick warm shawl 
and a large box with coffee-cake for the grand¬ 
mother. An enormous sausage for Peter’s 
mother followed, and a little sack of tobacco 
for the grandfather. At last a lot of mys¬ 
terious little parcels and boxes were packed, 
things that Clara had gathered together for 
Heidi. When the tidy pack lay ready on 
the ground, Clara’s heart filled with pleasure 
at the thought of her little friend’s delight. 

Sebastian now entered, and putting the 
pack on his shoulder, carried it to the doc¬ 
tor’s house without delay. 

206 




A GUEST ON THE ALP 



|HE early dawn was tinging 
the mountains and a fresh 
morning-breeze rocked the 
old fir-trees to and fro. 
Heidi opened her eyes, for 
the rustling of the wind had awakened her. 
These sounds always thrilled her heart, and 
now they drew her out of bed. Rising hur¬ 
riedly, she soon was neatly dressed and 
combed. 

Coming down the little ladder and find¬ 
ing the grandfather’s bed empty, she ran 
outside. The old man was looking up at 
the sky to see what the weather was going 
to be like that day. Rosy clouds were pass¬ 
ing overhead, but gradually the sky grew 
more blue and deep, and soon a golden 
light passed over the heights, for the sun 
was rising in all his glory. 






HEIDI 



“Oh, how lovely! Good-morning, grand¬ 
father,” Heidi exclaimed. 

“Are your eyes bright already?” the 
grandfather retorted, holding out his hand. 

Heidi then ran over to her beloved fir- 
trees and danced about, while the wind was 
howling in the branches. 

After the old man had washed and milked 
the goats, he brought them out of the shed. 
When Heidi saw her friends again, she 
caressed them tenderly, and they in their 
turn nearly crushed her between them. Some¬ 
times when Barli got too wild, Heidi would 
say: “But Barli, you push me like the Big 
Turk,” and that was enough to quiet the goat. 

Soon Peter arrived with the whole herd, 
the jolly Thistlefinch ahead of all the others. 
Heidi, being soon in the mist of them, was 
pushed about among them. Peter was anx¬ 
ious to say a word to the little girl, so he 
gave a shrill whistle, urging the goats to 
climb ahead. W 7 hen he was near her he 
said reproachfully: “You really might come 
with me to-day!” 

208 



A GUEST ON THE ALP 


“No, I can’t, Peter,” said Heidi. “They 
might come from Frankfurt any time. I 
must be home when they come.” 

“How often you have said that,” grum¬ 
bled the boy. 

“But I mean it,” replied Heidi. “Do 
you really think I want to be away when 
they come from Frankfurt? Do you really 
think that, Peter?” 

“They could come to uncle,” Peter 
growled. 

Then the grandfather’s strong voice was 
heard: “Why doesn’t the army go forward? / 
Is it the field-marshal’s fault, or the fault 
of the troop?” 

Peter immediately turned about and led 
his goats up the mountain without more 
ado. 

Since Heidi had come home again to her 
grandfather she did many things that had 
never occurred to her before. For instance, 
she would make her bed every morning, and 
run about the hut, tidying and dusting. 
With an old rag she would rub the chairs 

14 209 


HEIDI 


and table till they all shone, and the grand¬ 
father would exclaim: “It is always Sunday 
with us now; Heidi has not been away in 
vain.” 

On this day after breakfast, when Heidi 
began her self-imposed task, it took her 
longer than usual, for the weather was too 
glorious to stay within. Over and over 
again a bright sunbeam would tempt the 
busy child outside. How could she stay 
indoors, when the glistening sunshine was 
pouring down and all the mountains seemed 
to glow? She had to sit down on the dry, 
hard ground and look down into the valley 
and all about her. Then, suddenly remem¬ 
bering her little duties, she would hasten 
back. It was not long, though, till the 
roaring fir-trees tempted her again. The 
grandfather had been busy in his little shop, 
merely glancing over at the child from time 
to time. Suddenly he heard her call: “Oh 
grandfather, come!” 

He was frightened and came out quickly 

He saw her running down the hill crying: 

210 




THEY ARE COMING. OH, THE DOCTOR TS COMING FIRST 











A GUEST ON THE ALP 

“They are coming, they are coming. Oh, 
the doctor is coming first.” 

When Heidi at last reached her old friend, 
he held out his hand, which Heidi imme¬ 
diately seized. In the full joy of her heart, 
she exclaimed: “How do you do, doctor? 
And I thank you a thousand times!” 

“How are you, Heidi? But what are you 
thanking me for already?” the doctor asked, 
with a smile. 

“Because you let me come home again,” 
the child explained. 

The gentleman’s face lit up like sunshine. 
He had certainly not counted on such a 
reception on the Alp. On the contrary! 
Not even noticing all the beauty around him, 
he had climbed up sadly, for he was sure 
that Heidi probably would not know him 
any more. He thought that he would be 
far from welcome, being obliged to cause 
her a great disappointment. Instead, he 
beheld Heidi’s bright eyes looking up at 
him in gratefulness and love. She was still 
holding his arm, when he said: “Come now, 



HEIDI 


Heidi, and take me to your grandfather, 
for I want to see where you live .’ 5 

Like a kind father he had taken her hand, 
but Heidi stood still and looked down the 
mountain-side. 

“But where are Clara and grandmama?” 
she asked. 

“Child, I must tell you something now 
which will grieve you as much as it grieves 
me,” replied the doctor. “I had to come 
alone, for Clara has been very ill and could 
not travel. Of course grandmama has not 
come either; but the spring will soon be 
here, and when the days get long and warm, 
they will surely visit you.” 

Heidi was perfectly amazed; she could 
not understand how all those things that 
she had pictured to herself so clearly would 
not happen after all. She was standing per¬ 
fectly motionless, confused by the blow. 

It was some time before Heidi remem¬ 
bered that, after all, she had come down to 
meet the doctor. Looking up at her friend, 
she was struck by his sad and cheerless face. 



A GUEST ON THE ALP 


How changed he was since she had seen 
him! She did not like to see people un¬ 
happy? least of all the good, kind doctor. 
He must he sad because Clara and grand- 
mama had not come, and to console him 
she said: “Oh, it won’t last long till spring 
comes again; then they will come for sure; 
they’ll be able to stay much longer then, 
and that will please Clara. Now we’ll go 
to grandfather.” 

Hand in hand she climbed up with her 
old friend. All the way she tried to cheer 
him up by telling him again and again of 
the coming summer days. After they had 
reached the cottage, she called out to her 
grandfather quite happily: 

“They are not here yet, but it won’t be 
very long before they are coming!” 

The grandfather warmly welcomed his 
guest, who did not seem at all a stranger, 
for had not Heidi told him many things 
about the doctor? They all three sat down 
on the bench before the door, and the doc¬ 
tor told of the object of his visit. He whis- 



HEIDI 





pered to the child that something was com¬ 
ing up the mountain very soon which would 
bring her more pleasure than his visit. 
What could it be? 

The uncle advised the doctor to spend the 
splendid days of autumn on the Alp, if pos¬ 
sible, and to take a little room in the village 
instead of in Ragatz; then he could easily 
walk up every day to the hut, and from 
there the uncle could take him all around 
the mountains. This plan was accepted. 

The sun was in its zenith and the wind 
had ceased. Only a soft delicious breeze 
fanned the cheeks of all. 

The uncle now got up and went into the 
hut, returning soon with a table and their 
dinner. 

“Go in, Heidi, and set the table here. 
I hope you will excuse our simple meal,” 
he said, turning to his guest. 

“I shall gladly accept this delightful in¬ 
vitation; I am sure that dinner will taste 
good up here,” said the guest, looking down 
over the sun-bathed valley. 

214 



A GUEST ON THE ALP 


Heidi was running to and fro, for it gave 
her great joy to be able to wait on her kind 
protector. Soon the uncle appeared with 
the steaming milk, the toasted cheese, and 
the finely-sliced, rosy meat that had been 
dried in the pure air. The doctor enjoyed 
his dinner better than any he had ever 
tasted. 

“Yes, we must send Clara up here. How 
she could gather strength!” he said; “If she 
would have an appetite like mine to-day, 
she couldn’t help getting nice and fat.” 

At this moment a man could be seen 
walking up with a large sack on his shoulders. 
Arriving on top, he threw down his load, 
breathing in the pure, fresh air. 

Opening the cover, the doctor said: “This 
has come for you from Frankfurt, Heidi. 
Come and look what is in it.” 

Heidi timidly watched the heap, and only 
when the gentleman opened the box with 
the cakes for the grandmother she said joy¬ 
fully: “Oh, now grandmother can eat this 
lovely cake.” She was taking the box and 

215 


HEIDI 


the beautiful shawl on her arm and was go¬ 
ing to race down to deliver the gifts, when 
the men persuaded her to stay and unpack 
the rest. What was her delight at finding 
the tobacco and all the other things. The 
men had been talking together, when the 
child suddenly planted herself in front of 
them and said: “These things have not 
given me as much pleasure as the dear 
doctor’s coming.” Both men smiled. 

When it was near sunset, the doctor rose 
to start on his way down. The grandfather, 
carrying the box, the shawl and the sausage, 
and the guest holding the little girl by the 
hand, they wandered down the mountain¬ 
side. When they reached Peter’s hut, Heidi 
was told to go inside and wait for her grand¬ 
father there. At parting she asked: “Would 
you like to come with me up to the pasture 
to-morrow, doctor?” 

“With pleasure. Good-bye, Heidi,” was 
the reply. The grandfather had deposited 
all the presents before the door, and it took 

Heidi long to carry in the huge box and the 
216 





A GUEST ON THE ALP 


sausage. The shawl she put on the grand¬ 
mother’s knee. 

Brigida had silently watched the proceed¬ 
ings, and could not open her eyes wide 
enough when she saw the enormous sausage. 
Never in her life had she seen the like, and 
now she really possessed it and could cut 
it herself. 

“Oh grandmother, don’t the cakes please 
you awfully? Just look how soft they are!” 
the child exclaimed. What was her amaze¬ 
ment when she saw the grandmother more 
pleased with the shawl, which would keep 
her warm in winter. 

“Grandmother, Clara has sent you that,” 
Heidi said. 

“Oh, what kind good people they are to 
think of a poor old woman like me! I 
never thought I should ever own such a 
splendid wrap.” 

At this moment Peter came stumbling in. 

“The uncle is coming up behind me, and 
Heidi must—” that was as far as he got, 
for his eyes had fastened on the sausage. 



HEIDI 


Heidi, however, had already said good-bye, 
for she knew what he had meant. Though 
her uncle never went by the hut any more 
without stepping in, she knew it was too 
late to-day. “ Heidi, come, you must get 
your sleep,” he called through the open 
door. Bidding them all good-night, he 
took Heidi by the hand and under the glis¬ 
tening stars they wandered home to their 
peaceful cottage. 










XVII 

RETALIATION 

ARLY the next morning the 
doctor climbed up the moun¬ 
tain in company with Peter 
and his goats. The friendly 
gentleman made several at¬ 
tempts to start a conversation with the boy, 
but as answer to his questions he got 
nothing more than monosyllables. When they 
arrived on top, they found Heidi already 
waiting, fresh and rosy as the early dawn. 

“Are you coming?” asked Peter as usual. 

“Of course I shall, if the doctor comes 
with us,” replied the child. 

The grandfather, coming out of the hut, 
greeted the newcomer with great respect. 
Then he went up to Peter, and hung on his 
shoulder the sack, which seemed to contain 
more than usual that day. 

When they had started on their way. 







• 4L 

** « 



MIS** ,L \ 

Jr* s> ^ V v 






4 





HEIDI 


Heidi kept urging forward the goats, which 
were crowding about her. When at last 
she was walking peacefully by the doctor’s 
side, she began to relate to him many things 
about the goats and all their strange pranks, 
and about the flowers, rocks and birds they 
saw. When they arrived at their destina¬ 
tion, time seemed to have flown. Peter all 
the time was sending many an angry glance 
at the unconscious doctor, who never even 
noticed it. 

Heidi now took the doctor to her favor¬ 
ite spot. From there they could hear the 
peaceful-sounding bells of the grazing cat¬ 
tle below. The sky was deep blue, and 
above their heads the eagle was circling 
with outstretched wings. Everything was 
luminous and bright about them, but the 
doctor had been silent. Suddenly looking 
up, he beheld Heidi’s radiant eyes. 

“ Heidi, it is beautiful up here,” he said. 
“But how can anybody with a heavy heart 
enjoy the beauty? Tell me!” 

“Oh,” exclaimed Heidi, “one never has 


RETALIATION 


a sad heart here. One only gets unhappy 
in Frankfurt.” 

A faint smile passed over the doctor's 
face. Then he began: “But if somebody 
has brought his sorrow away with him, 
how would you comfort him?” 

“God in Heaven alone can help him.” 

“That is true, child,” remarked the doc¬ 
tor. “But what can we do when God Him¬ 
self has sent us the affliction?” 

After meditating a moment, Heidi re¬ 
plied: “One must wait patiently, for God 
knows how to turn the saddest things to 
something happy in the end. God will show 
us what He has meant to do for us. But 
He will only do so if we pray to Him pa¬ 
tiently.” 

“I hope you will always keep this beau¬ 
tiful belief, Heidi,” said the doctor. Then 
looking up at the mighty cliffs above, he 
continued: “Think how sad it would make 
us not to be able to see all these beautiful 
things. Wouldn’t that make us doubly sad? 
Can you understand me, child?” 


HEIDI 



A great pain shot through Heidi’s breast. 
She had to think of the poor grandmother. 
Her blindness was always a great sorrow to 
the child, and she had been struck with it 
anew. Seriously she replied: 

“Oh yes, I can understand it. But then 
we can read grandmother’s songs; they 
make us happy and bright again.” 

“Which songs, Heidi?” 

“Oh, those of the sun, and of the beau¬ 
tiful garden, and then the last verses of the 
long one. Grandmother loves them so that 
I always have to read them over three 
times,” said Heidi. 

“I wish you would say them to me, 
child, for I should like to hear them,” said 
the doctor. 

Heidi, folding her hands, began the con¬ 
soling verses. She stopped suddenly, how¬ 
ever, for the doctor did not seem to listen. 
He was sitting motionless, holding his hand 
before his eyes. Thinking that he had fallen 
asleep, she remained silent. But the verses 

had recalled his childhood days; he seemed 

222 








RETALIATION 


to hear his mother and see her loving eyes, 
for when he was a little boy she had sung 
this song to him. A long time he sat there, 
till he discovered that Heidi was watching 
him. 

“Heidi, your song was lovely,” he said 
with a more joyful voice. “We must come 
here another day and then you can recite 
it to me again.” 

During all this time Peter had been boil¬ 
ing with anger. Now that Heidi had come 
again to the pasture with him, she did 
nothing but talk to the old gentleman. It 
made him very cross that he was not even 
able to get near her. Standing a little dis¬ 
tance behind Heidi’s friend, he shook his 
fist at him, and soon afterwards both fists, 
finally raising them up to the sky, as Heidi 
and the doctor remained together. 

When the sun stood in its zenith and 
Peter knew that it was noon, he called over 
to them with all his might: “Time to eat.” 

When Heidi was getting up to fetch their 
dinner, the doctor just asked for a glass of 

223 


HEIDI 


milk, which was all he wanted. The child 
also decided to make the milk her sole 
repast, running over to Peter and inform¬ 
ing him of their resolution. 

When the boy found that the whole con¬ 
tents of the bag was his, he hurried with 
his task as never in his life before. But he 
felt guilty on account of his former anger 
at the kind gentleman. To show his re¬ 
pentance he held his hands up flat to the 
sky, indicating by his action that his fists 
did not mean anything any more. Only 
after that did he start with his feast. 

Heidi and the doctor had wandered about 
the pasture till the gentleman had found 
it time to go. He wanted Heidi to remain 
where she was, but she insisted on accom¬ 
panying him. All the way down she showed 
him many places where the pretty mountain 
flowers grew, all of whose names she could 
tell him. When they parted at last, Heidi 
waved to him. From time to time he 
turned about, and seeing the child still 
standing there, he had to think of his own 


RETALIATION 


little daughter who used to wave to him 
like that when he went away from home. 

The weather was warm and sunny that 
month. Every morning the doctor came 
up to the Alp, spending his day very often 
with the old man. Many a climb they had 
together that took them far up, to the bare 
cliffs near the eagle’s haunt. The uncle 
would show his guest all the herbs that 
grew on hidden places and were strengthen¬ 
ing and healing. He could tell many strange 
things of the beasts that lived in holes in 
rock or earth, or in the high tops of trees. 

In the evening they would part, and the 
doctor would exclaim: “My dear friend, I 
never leave you without having learned 
something.” 

But most of his days he spent with Heidi. 
Then the two would sit together on the 
child’s favorite spot, and Peter, quite sub¬ 
dued, behind them. Heidi had to recite 
the verses, as she had done the first day, 
and entertain him with all the things she 
knew. 




15 


225 


HEIDI 


At last the beautiful month of Septem¬ 
ber was over. One morning the doctor 
came up with a sadder face than usual. The 
time had come for him to go back to Frank¬ 
furt, and great was the uncle’s sadness at 
that news. Heidi herself could hardly real¬ 
ize that her loving friend, whom she had 
been seeing every day, was really leaving. 
The doctor himself was loath to go, for the 
Alp had become as a home to him. But 
it was necessary for him to go, and shaking 
hands with the grandfather, he said good¬ 
bye, Heidi going along with him a little way. 

Hand in hand they wandered down, till 
the doctor stood still. Then caressing 
Heidi’s curly hair, he said: “Now I must 
go, Heidi! I wish I could take you along 
with me to Frankfurt; then I could keep you.” 

At those words, all the rows and rows 
of houses and streets, Miss Rottenmeier 
and Tinette rose before Heidi’s eyes. Hes¬ 
itating a little, she said: “I should like it 
better if you would come to see us again.” 

“I believe that will be better. Now fare- 

226 


RETALIATION 


well!” said the freindly gentleman. When 
they shook hands his eyes filled with tears. 
Turning quickly he hurried off. 

Heidi, standing on the same spot, looked 
after him. What kind eyes he had! But 
they had been full of tears. All of a sudden 
she began to cry bitterly, and ran after her 
friend, calling with all her might, but inter¬ 
rupted by her sobs: 

“Oh doctor, doctor!” 

Looking round he stood still and waited 
till the child had reached him. Her tears 
came rolling down her cheeks while she 
sobbed: “I’ll come with you to Frankfurt 
and I’ll stay as long as ever you want me 
to. But first I must see grandfather.” 

“No, no, dear child,” he said affection¬ 
ately, “not at once. You must remain 
here,—I don’t want you to get ill again. 
But if I should get sick and lonely and ask 
you to come to me, would you come and 
stay with me? Can I go away and think 
that somebody in this world still cares for 
me and loves me?” 



HEIDI 


“Yes, I shall come to you the same day, 
for I really love you as much as grand¬ 
father,” Heidi assured him, crying all the 
time. 

Shaking hands again, they parted. ,IIeidi 
stayed on the same spot, waving her hand 
and looking after her departing friend till 
he seemed no bigger than a little dot. Then 
he looked back a last time at Heidi and the 
sunny Alp, muttering to himself: “It is 
beautiful up there. Body and soul get 
strengthened in that place and life seems 
worth living again.” 




XVIII 

WINTER IN THE VILLAGE 



HE snow lay so deep around 
the Aim-hut that the win¬ 
dows seemed to stand level 
with the ground and the 
house-door had entirely dis¬ 
appeared. Round Peter’s hut it was the 
same. When the boy went out to shovel 
the snow, he had to creep through the win¬ 
dow; then he would sink deep into the soft 
snow and kick with arms and legs to get 
free. Taking a broom, the boy would have 
to clear away the snow from the door to 
prevent its falling into the hut. 

The uncle had kept his word; when the 
first snow had fallen, he had moved down 
to the village with Heidi and his goats. 
Near the church and the parish house lay 
an old ruin that once had been a spacious 
building. A brave soldier had lived there 
in days gone by; he had fought in the Span- 







HEIDI 




ish war, and coming back with many riches, 
had built himself a splendid house. But 
having lived too long in the noisy world to 
be able to stand the monotonous life in the 
little town, he soon went away, never to come 
back. After his death, many years later, 
though the house was already beginning to 
decay, a distant relation of his took posses¬ 
sion of it. The new proprietor did not want 
to build it up again, so poor people moved 
in. They had to pay little rent for the 
house, which was gradually crumbling and 
falling to pieces. Years ago, when the uncle 
had come to the village with Tobias, he had 
lived there. Most of the time it had been 
empty, for the winter lasted long, and cold 
winds would blow through the chinks in the 
walls. When poor people lived there, their 
candles would be blown out and they would 
shiver with cold in the dark. But the uncle, 
had known how to help himself. In the 
fall, as soon as he had resolved to live in 
the village, he came down frequently, fitting 
up the place as best he could. 

230 












WINTER IN THE VILLAGE 

On approaching the house from the back, 
one entered an open room, where nearly all 
the walls lay in ruins. On one side the re¬ 
mains of a chapel could be seen, now covered 
with the thickest ivy. A large hall came 
next, with a beautiful stone floor and grass 
growing in the crevices. Most of the walls 
were gone and part of the ceiling also. If 
a few thick pillars had not been left support¬ 
ing the rest, it would undoubtedly have 
tumbled down. The uncle had made a 
wooden partition here for the goats, and 
covered the floor with straw. Several cor¬ 
ridors, most of them half decayed, led 
finally to a chamber with a heavy iron door. 
This room was still in good condition and 
had dark wood panelling on the four firm 
walls. In one corner was an enormous 
stove, which nearly reached up to the ceil¬ 
ing. On the white tiles were painted blue 
pictures of old towers surrounded by high 
trees, and of hunters with their hounds. 
There also was a scene with a quiet lake, 
where, under shady oak-trees, a fisherman 

231 


HEIDI 


was sitting. Around the stove a bench was 
placed. Heidi loved to sit there, and as 
soon as she had entered their new abode, 
she began to examine the pictures. Arriv¬ 
ing at the end of the bench, she discovered 
a bed, which was placed between the wall 
and the stove. “Oh grandfather, I have 
found my bed-room,” exclaimed the little 
girl. “Oh, how fine it is! Where are you 
going to sleep?” 

“Your bed must be near the stove, to 
keep you warm,” said the old man. “Now 
come and look at mine.” 

With that the grandfather led her into 
his bed-room. From there a door led into 
the hugest kitchen Heidi had ever seen. 
With a great deal of trouble the grandfather 
had fitted up this place. Many boards were 
nailed across the walls and the door had 
been fastened with heavy wires, for beyond, 
the building lay in ruins. Thick under¬ 
brush was growing there, sheltering thou¬ 
sands of insects and lizards. Heidi was de¬ 
lighted with her new home, and when Peter 

232 




WINTER IN THE VILLAGE 


arrived next day, she did not rest till he had 
seen every nook and corner of the curious 
dwelling-place. 

Heidi slept very well in her chimney cor¬ 
ner, but it took her many days to get accus¬ 
tomed to it. When she woke up in the 
morning and could not hear the fir-trees 
roar, she would wonder where she was. Was 
the snow too heavy on the branches? Was 
she away from home? But as soon as she 
heard her grandfather’s voice outside, she 
remembered everything and would jump 
merrily out of bed. 

After four days had gone by, Heidi said 
to her grandfather: “I must go to grand¬ 
mother now, she has been alone so many 
days.” 

But the grandfather shook his head and 
said: “You can’t go yet, child. The 
snow is fathoms deep up there and is still 
falling. Peter can hardly get through. A 
little girl like you would be snowed up and 
lost in no time. Wait a while till it freezes 
and then you can walk on top of the crust.” 


HEIDI 


Heidi was very sorry, but she was so busy 
now that the days flew by. Every morning 
and afternoon she went to school, eagerly 
learning whatever was taught her. She 
hardly ever saw Peter there, for he did not 
come very often. The mild teacher would 
only say from time to time: “It seems to 
me, Peter is not here again! School would 
do him good, but I guess there is too much 
snow for him to get through.” But when 
Heidi came home towards evening, Peter 
generally paid her a visit. 

After a few days the sun came out for a 
short time at noon, and the next morning 
the whole Alp glistened and shone like crys¬ 
tal. When Peter was jumping as usual into 
the snow that morning, he fell against some¬ 
thing hard, and before he could stop him¬ 
self he flew a little way down the mountain. 
When he had gained his feet at last, he 
stamped upon the ground with all his might. 
It really was frozen as hard as stone. Peter 
could hardly believe it, and quickly running 
up and swallowing his milk, and putting 


WINTER IN THE VILLAGE 


his bread in his pocket, he announced: “I 
must go to school to-day!” 

“Yes, go and learn nicely,” answered his 
mother. 

Then, sitting down on his sled, the boy 
coasted down the mountain like a shot. 
Not being able to stop his course when he 
reached the village, he coasted down further 
and further, till he arrived in the plain, 
where the sled stopped of itself. It was al¬ 
ready late for school, so the boy took his 
time and only arrived in the village when 
Heidi came home for dinner. 

“We’ve got it!” announced the boy, on 
entering. 

“What, general?” asked the uncle. 

“The snow,” Peter replied. 

“Oh, now I can go up to grandmother!” 
Heidi rejoiced. “But Peter, why didn’t 
you come to school? You could coast down 
to-day,” she continued reproachfully. 

“I went too far on my sled and then it 
was too late,” Peter replied. 

“I call that deserting!” said the uncle. 



HEIDI 


“People who do that must have their ears 
pulled; do you hear?” 

The boy was frightened, for there was no 
one in the world whom he respected more 
than the uncle. 

“A general like you ought to be doubly 
ashamed to do so,” the uncle went on. 
“What would you do with the goats if they 
did not obey you any more?” 

“Beat them,” was the reply. 

“If you knew of a boy that was behaving 
like a disobedient goat and had to get 
spanked, what would you say?” 

“Serves him right.” 

“So now you know it, goat-general: if you 
miss school again, when you ought to be there, 
you can come to me and get your due.” 

Now at last Peter understood what the 
uncle had meant. More kindly, the old man 
then turned to Peter and said, “Come to 
the table now and eat with us. Then you 
can go up with Heidi, and when you bring 
her back at night, you can get your supper 
here.” 


WINTER IN THE VILLAGE 


This unexpected change delighted Peter. 
Not losing any time, he soon disposed of 
his full plate. Heidi, who had given the 
boy most of her dinner, was already putting 
on Clara’s new coat. Then together they 
climbed up, Heidi chatting all the time. 
But Peter did not say a single word. He 
was preoccupied and had not even listened 
to Heidi’s tales. Before they entered the 
hut, the boy said stubbornly: “I think 
I had rather go to school than get a beating 
from the uncle.” Heidi promptly confirmed 
him in his resolution. 

When they went into the room, Peter’s 
mother was alone at the table mending. 
The grandmother was nowhere to be seen. 
Brigida now told Heidi that the grandmother 
was obliged to stay in bed on those cold 
days, as she did not feel very strong. That 
was something new for Heidi. Quickly run¬ 
ning to the old woman’s chamber, she found 
her lying in a narrow bed, wrapped up in 
her grey shawl and thin blanket. 

“Thank Heaven!” the grandmother ex- 


HEIDI 

claimed when she heard her darling’s step. 
All autumn and winter long a secret fear 
had been gnawing at her heart, that Heidi 
would be sent for by the strange gentleman 
of whom Peter had told her so much. Heidi 
had approached the bed, asking anxiously: 
“Are you very sick, grandmother?” 

“No, no, child,” the old woman reassured 
her, “the frost has just gone into my limbs 
a little.” 

“Are you going to be well again as soon 
as the warm weather comes?” inquired Heidi. 

“Yes, yes, and if God wills, even sooner. 
I want to go back to my spinning-wheel 
and I nearly tried it to-day. I’ll get up 
to-morrow, though,” the grandmother said 
confidently, for she had noticed how 
frightened Heidi was. 

The last speech made the child feel more 
happy. Then, looking wonderingly at the 
grandmother, she said: “In Frankfurt peo¬ 
ple put on a shawl when they go out. Why 
are you putting it on in bed, grandmother?” 

“I put it on to keep me warm, Heidi. I 

238 



WINTER IN THE VILLAGE 


am glad to have it, for my blanket is very 
thin.” 

“But, grandmother, your bed is slanting 
down at your head, where it ought to be 
high. No bed ought to be like that.” 

“I know, child, I can feel it well.” So 
saying, the old woman tried to change her 
position on the pillow that lay under her 
like a thin board. “My pillow never was 
very thick, and sleeping on it all these years 
has made it flat.” 

“Oh dear, if I had only asked Clara to 
give me the bed I had in Frankfurt!” Heidi 
lamented. “It had three big pillows on it; 
I could hardly sleep because I kept sliding 
down from them all the time. Could you 
sleep with them, grandmother?” 

“Of course, because that would keep me 
warm. I could breathe so much easier, too,” 
said the grandmother, trying to find a higher 
place to lie on. “But I must not talk about 
it any more, for I have to be thankful for 
many things. I get the lovely roll every 
day and have this beautiful warm shawl. 

239 


HEIDI 


I also have you, my child! Heidi, wouldn’t 
you like to read me something to-day?” 

Heidi immediately fetched the book and 
read one song after another. The grand¬ 
mother in the meantime was lying with 
folded hands; her face, which had been so 
sad a short time ago, was lit up with a 
happy smile. 

Suddenly Heidi stopped. 

“Are you well again, grandmother?” she 
asked. 

“I feel very much better, Heidi. Please 
finish the song, will you?” 

The child obeyed, and when she came to 
the last words, 

When mine eyes grow dim and sad. 

Let Thy love more brightly burn, 

That my soul, a wanderer glad, 

Safely homeward may return. 

6 ‘ Safely homeward may return!” she ex¬ 
claimed: “Oh, grandmother, I know what 
it is like to come home.” After a while 
she said: “It is getting dark, grandmother, 


m ' : 



THE TWO CHILDREN WERE ALREADY FLYING DOWN THE ALP 








WINTER IN THE VILLAGE 

I must go home now. I am glad that you 
feel better again.” 

The grandmother, holding the child’s hand 
in hers, said: “Yes, I am happy again, 
though I have to stay in bed. Nobody 
knows how hard it is to lie here alone, day 
after day. I do not hear a word from any¬ 
body and cannot see a ray of sunlight. I 
have very sad thoughts sometimes, and often 
I feel as if I could not bear it any longer. 
But when I can hear those blessed songs 
that you have read to me, it makes me feel 
as if a light was shining into my heart, giv¬ 
ing me the purest joy.” 

Shaking hands, the child now said good¬ 
night, and pulling Peter with her, ran out¬ 
side. The brilliant moon was shining down 
on the white snow, light as day. The two 
children were already flying down the Alp, 
like birds soaring through the air. 

After Heidi had gone to bed that night, 
she lay awake a little while, thinking over 
everything the grandmother had said, es¬ 
pecially about the joy the songs had given 
16 241 





HEIDI 



her. If only poor grandmother could hear 
those comforting words every day! Heidi 
knew that it might be a week or two again 
before she could repeat her visit. The child 
became very sad when she thought how un¬ 
comfortable and lonely the old woman would 
be. Was there no way for help? Suddenly 
Heidi had an idea, and it thrilled her so 
that she felt as if she could not wait till 
morning came to put her plan in execution. 
But in her excitement she had forgotten her 
evening prayer, so sitting up in bed, she 
prayed fervently to God. Then, falling back 
into the fragrant hay, she soon slept peace¬ 
fully and soundly still the bright morning 
came. 





WINTER STILL CONTINUES 



ETER arrived punctually at 
school next day. He had 
brought his lunch with him 
in a bag, for all the children 
that came from far away ate 
in school, while the others went home. In 
the evening Peter as usual paid his visit to 
Heidi. 

The minute he opened the door she ran 
up to him, saying: “Peter, I have to tell 
you something.” 

“Say it,” he replied. 

“You must learn to read now,” said the 
child. 


“I have done it already.” 

“Yes, yes, Peter, but I don’t mean it 
that way,” Heidi eagerly proceeded; “you 
must learn so that you really know how 
afterwards.” 









HEIDI 


“I can’t,” Peter remarked. 

“Nobody believes you about that any 
more, and I won’t either,” Heidi said reso¬ 
lutely. “When I was in Frankfurt, grand- 
mama told me that it wasn’t true and that 
I shouldn’t believe you.” 

Peter’s astonishment was great. 

“I’ll teach you, for I know how; when 
you have learnt it, you must read one or 
two songs to grandmother every day.” 

“I shan’t!” grumbled the boy. 

This obstinate refusal made Heidi very 
angry. With flaming eyes she planted her¬ 
self before the boy and said: “I’ll tell you 
what will happen, if you don’t want to 
learn. Your mother has often said that 
she’ll send you to Frankfurt. Clara showed 
me the terrible, large boys’ school there, 
where you’ll have to go. You must stay 
there till you are a man, Peter! You mustn’t 
think that there is only one teacher there, 
and such a kind one as we have here. No, 
indeed! There are whole rows of them, and 
when they are out walking they have high 


WINTER STILL CONTINUES 


black hats on their heads. I saw them my¬ 
self, when I was out driving!” 

Cold shivers ran down Peter’s back. 

“Yes, you’ll have to go there, and when 
they find out that you can’t read or even 
spell, they’ll laugh at you!” 

“I’ll do it,” said Peter, half angry and 
half frightened. 

“ Oh, I am glad. Let us start right away!” 
said Heidi joyfully, pulling Peter over to 
the table. Among the things that Clara 
had sent, Heidi had found a little book with 
the A,B,C and some rhymes. She had 
chosen this for the lessons. Peter, having 
to spell the first rhyme, found great diffi¬ 
culty, so Heidi said, “I’ll read it to you, 
and then you’ll be able to do it better. Lis¬ 
ten: 

“If A, B, C you do not know, 

Before the school board you must go.” 

“I won’t go.” said Peter stubbornly. 

“Where?” 

“Before the court.” 


HEIDI 


“Hurry up and learn the three letters, 
then you won’t have to!” 

Peter, beginning again, repeated the three 
letters till Heidi said: 

“Now you know them.” 

Having observed the good result of the 
first rhyme, she began to read again: 

D, E, F you then must read, 

Or of misfortune take good heed! 

Who over L and M doth stumble, 

Must pay a penance and feel humble. 

There’s trouble coming; if you knew. 
You’d quickly learn N, O, P, Q. 

If still you halt on R, S, T, 

You’ll suffer for it speedily. 

Heidi, stopping, looked at Peter, who was 
so frightened by all these threats and mys¬ 
terious horrors that he sat as still as a mouse. 
Heidi’s tender heart was touched, and she 
said comfortingly: “Don’t be afraid, Peter; 
if you come to me every day, you’ll soon 
learn all the letters and then those things 

246 



WINTER STILL CONTINUES 


won’t happen. But come every day, even 
when it snows. Promise!” 

Peter did so, and departed. Obeying 
Heidi’s instructions, he came daily to her 
for his lesson. 

Sometimes the grandfather would sit in 
the room, smoking his pipe; often the cor¬ 
ners of his mouth would twitch as if he 
could hardly keep from laughing. 

He generally invited Peter to stay to sup¬ 
per afterwards, which liberally rewarded 
the boy for all his great exertions. 

Thus the days passed by. In all this 
time Peter had really made some progress, 
though the rhymes still gave him difficulty. 

When they had come to U, Heidi read: 
Whoever mixes U and V, 

Will go where he won’t want to be! 

and further, 

If W you still ignore. 

Look at the rod beside the door. 

Often Peter would growl and object to 
those measures, but nevertheless he kept on 
learning, and soon had but three letters left. 

947 


HEIDI 


The next few days the following rhymes, 
with their threats, made Peter more eager 
than ever. 

If you the letter X forget 
For you no supper will be set. 

If you still hesitate with Y, 

For shame you’ll run away and cry. 

When Heidi read the last, 

And he who makes his Z with blots. 

Must journey to the Hottentots, 

Peter sneered: “Nobody even knows where 
they are!” 

“I am sure grandfather does,” Heidi re¬ 
torted, jumping up. “Just wait one minute 
and I shall ask him. He is over with the 
parson,” and with that she had opened the 
door. 

“Wait!” shrieked Peter in great alarm, 
for he saw himself already transported to 
those dreadful people. “What is the mat¬ 
ter with you?” said Heidi, standing still. 
“Nothing, but stay here. I’ll learn,” he 



WINTER STILL CONTINUES 


blubbered. But Heidi, wanting to know 
something about the Hottentots herself, 
could only be kept back by piteous screams 
from Peter. So at last they settled down 
again, and before it was time to go, Peter 
knew the last letter, and had even begun 
to read syllables. From this day on he pro¬ 
gressed more quickly. 

It was three weeks since Heidi had paid 
her last visit to the grandmother, for much 
snow had fallen since. One evening, Peter, 
coming home, said triumphantly: 

“I can do it!” 

“What is it you can do, Peter?” asked 
his mother, eagerly. 

“Read.” 

“What, is it possible? Did you hear it, 
grandmother?” exclaimed Brigida. 

The grandmother also was curious to 
learn how this had happened. 

“I must read a song now; Heidi told me 
to,” Peter continued. To the women’s 
amazement, Peter began. After every verse 
his mother would exclaim, “Who would 

249 


/ 

» 

k 


• 


• A 


HEIDI 


have ever thought it!” while the grand¬ 
mother remained silent. 

One day later, when it happened that it 
was Peter’s turn to read in school, the 
teacher said: 

“Peter, must I pass you by again, as 
usual? Or do you want to try t— I shall not 
say to read, but to stammer through a line?” 

Peter began and read three lines without 
stopping. 

In dumb astonishment, the teacher, put¬ 
ting down his book, looked at the boy. 

“What miracle has happened to you?” 
he exclaimed. “For a long time I tried to 
teach you with all my patience, and you 
were not even able to grasp the letters, but 
now that I had given you up as hopeless, 
you have not only learnt how to spell, but 
even to read. How did this happen, Peter?” 

“It was Heidi,” the boy replied. 

In great amazement, the teacher looked 
at the little girl. Then the kind man con¬ 
tinued : 

“I have noticed a great change in you, 

250 


WINTER STILL CONTINUES 


Peter. You used to stay away from school, 
sometimes more tham a week, and lately 
you have not even missed a day. Who has 
brought about this change?” 

“The uncle.” 

Every evening now Peter on his return 
home read one song to his grandmother, 
but never more. To the frequent praises 
of Brigida, the old woman once replied: “I 
am glad he has learnt something, but never¬ 
theless I am longing for the spring to come. 
Then Heidi can visit me, for when she reads, 
the verses sound so different. I cannot al¬ 
ways follow Peter, and the songs don’t 
thrill me the way they do when Heidi says 
them!” 

And no wonder! For Peter would often 
leave out long and difficult words,—what 
did three or four words matter! So it hap¬ 
pened sometimes that there were hardly 
any nouns left in the hymns that Peter read. 






L'b# 



NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 

AY had come. Warm sun¬ 
shine was bathing the whole 
Alp in glorious light, and 
having melted the last snow, 
had brought the first spring 
flowers to the surface. A merry spring wind 
was blowing, drying up the damp places in 
the shadow. High above in the azure heaven 
the eagle floated peacefully. 

Heidi and her grandfather w r ere back on 
the Alp. The child was so happy to be 
home again that she jumped about among 
the beloved objects. Here she discovered 
a new spring bud, and there she watched 
the gay little gnats and beetles that were 
swarming in the sun. 

The grandfather was busy in his little 
shop, and a sound of hammering and saw¬ 
ing could be heard. Heidi had to go and 
see what the grandfather was making. There 








NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 


before the door stood a neat new chair, 
while the old man was busy making a sec¬ 
ond. 

“Oh, I know what they are for,” said 
Heidi gaily. “You are making them for 
Clara and grandmama. Oh, but we need 
a third—or do you think that Miss Rotten- 
meier won’t come, perhaps?” 

“I really don’t know,” said grandfather: 
“but it is safer to have a chair for her, if she 
should come.” 

Heidi, thoughtfully looking at the back¬ 
less chairs, remarked: “Grandfather, I don’t 
think she would sit down on those.” 

“Then we must invite her to sit down on 
the beautiful green lounge of grass,” quietly 
answered the old man. 

While Heidi was still wondering what the 
grandfather had meant, Peter arrived, whis¬ 
tling and calling. As usual, Heidi was soon 
surrounded by the goats, who also seemed 
happy to be back on the Alp. Peter, 
angrily pushing the goats aside, marched up 
to Heidi, thrusting a letter into her hand. 

253 


HEIDI 


“Did you get a letter for me on the past¬ 
ure?” Heidi said, astonished. 

“No.” 

“Where did it come from?” 

“From my bag.” 

The letter had been given to Peter the 
previous evening; putting it in his lunch-bag, 
the boy had forgotten it there till he opened 
the bag for his dinner. Heidi immediately 
recognized Clara’s handwriting, and bounding 
over to her grandfather, exclaimed: “A letter 
has come from Clara. Wouldn’t you like 
me to read it to you, grandfather?” 

Heidi immediately read to her two lis¬ 
teners, as follows:- 

Dear Heidi:— 

We are all packed up and shall travel in two 
or three days. Papa is leaving, too, but not with 
us, for he has to go to Paris first. The dear 
doctor visits us now every day, and as soon as 
he opens the door, he calls, ‘Away to the Alp!’ 
for he can hardly wait for us to go. If you only 
knew how he enjoyed being with you last fall! 
He came nearly every day this winter to tell us 


NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 


all about you and the grandfather and the moun¬ 
tains and the flowers he saw. He said that it 
was so quiet in the pure, delicious air, away from 
towns and streets, that everybody has to get 
well there. He is much better himself since his 
visit, and seems younger and happier. Oh, how 
I look forward to it all! The doctor’s advice is, 
that I shall go to Ragatz first for about six 
weeks, then I can go to live in the village, and 
from there I shall come to see you every fine 
day. Grandmama, who is coming with me, is 
looking forward to the trip too. But just think, 
Miss Rottenmeier does not want to go. When 
grandmama urges her, she always declines 
politely. I think Sebastian must have given her 
such a terrible description of the high rocks and 
fearful abysses, that she is afraid. I think he 
told her that it was not safe for anybody, and 
that only goats could climb such dreadful heights. 
She used to be so eager to go to Switzerland, but 
now neither Tinette nor she wants to take the 
risk. I can hardly wait to see you again! 

Good-bye, dear Heidi, with much love from 
grandmama, 

I am your true friend, 

Claka. 


HEIDI 







When Peter heard this, he swung his rod 
to right and left. Furiously driving the 
goats before him, he bounded down the hill. 

Heidi visited the grandmother next day, 
for she had to tell her the good news. Sit¬ 
ting up in her corner, the old woman was 
spinning as usual. Her face looked sad, for 
Peter had already announced the near visit 
of Heidi’s friends, and she dreaded the result. 

After having poured out her full heart, 
Heidi looked at the old woman. “What is 
it, grandmother?” said the child. “Are you 
not glad?” 

“Oh yes, Heidi, I am glad, because you 
are happy.” 

“But, grandmother, you seem so anxious. 
Do you still think Miss Rottenmeier is com¬ 
ing?” 

“Oh no, it is nothing. Give me your 
hand, for I want to be sure that you are 
still here. I suppose it will be for the best, 
even if I shall not live to see the day!” 

“Oh, but then I would not care about 
this coming,” said the child. 


NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 


The grandmother had hardly slept all 
night for thinking of Clara’s coming. Would 
they take Heidi away from her, now that 
she was well and strong? But for the sake 
of the child she resolved to be brave. 

“Heidi,” she said, “please read me the 
song that begins with ‘God will see to it.’” 

Heidi immediately did as she was told; 
she knew nearly all the grandmother’s favor¬ 
ite hymns by now and always found them 
quickly. 

“That does me good, child,” the old woman 
said. Already the expression of her face 
seemed happier and less troubled. “Please 
read it a few times over, child,” she en¬ 
treated. 

Thus evening came, and when Heidi wan¬ 
dered homewards, one twinkling star after 
another appeared in the sky. Heidi stood 
still every few minutes, looking up to the 
firmament in wonder. When she arrived 
home, her grandfather also was looking up 
to the stars, murmuring to himself: “What 
a wonderful month!— one day clearer than 

17 25 7 


HEIDI 

the other. The herbs will be fine and strong 
this year.” 

The blossom month had passed, and June, 
with the long, long days, had come. Quanti¬ 
ties of flowers were blooming everywhere, 
filling the air with perfume. The month was 
nearing its end, when one morning Heidi 
came running out of the hut, where she had 
already completed her duties. Suddenly she 
screamed so loud that the grandfather hur¬ 
riedly came out to see w T hat had happened. 

“Grandfather! Come here! Look, look!” 

A strange procession was winding up the 
Aim. First marched two men, carrying an 
open sedan chair with a young girl in it, 
wrapped up in many shawls. Then came 
a stately lady on horseback, who, talking 
with a young guide beside her, looked eagerly 
right and left. Then an empty rolling-chair, 
carried by a young fellow, was followed by 
a porter who had so many covers, shawls 
and furs piled up on his basket that they 
towered high above his head. 

“They are coming! they are coming!” 

258 


NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 

cried Heidi in her joy, and soon the party 
had arrived at the top. Great was the hap¬ 
piness of the children at seeing each other 
again. When grandmama had descended 
from her horse, she tenderly greeted Heidi 
first, and then turned to the uncle, who 
had approached the group. The two met 
like two old friends, they had heard so much 
about each other. 

After the first words were exchanged, the 
grandmother exclaimed: “My dear uncle, 
what a wonderful residence you have. Who 
would have ever thought it! Kings could 
envy you here! Oh, how well my Heidi is 
looking, just like a. little rose!” she con¬ 
tinued, drawing the child closely to her side 
and patting her cheeks. “What glory every¬ 
where! Clara, what do you say to it all?” 

Clara, looking about her rapturously, 
cried: “Oh, how wonderful, how glorious! 
I have never dreamt it could be as beau¬ 
tiful as that. Oh grandmama, I wish I 
could stay here!” 

The uncle had busied himself in the mean- 









HEIDI 


time with getting Clara’s rolling-chair for her. 
Then, going up to the girl, he gently lifted her 
into her seat. Putting some covers over her 
knees, he tucked her feet in warmly. It 
seemed as if the grandfather had done noth¬ 
ing else all his life than nurse lame people. 

“My dear uncle,” said the grandmama, 
surprised, “please tell me where you learned 
that, for I shall send all the nurses I know 
here immediately.’” 

The uncle smiled faintly, while he replied: 
“It comes more from care than study.” 

His face became sad. Before his eyes had 
risen bygone times. For that was the way 
he used to care for his poor wounded captain, 
whom he had found in Sicily after a violent 
battle. He alone had been allowed to nurse 
him till his death, and now he would take 
just as good care of poor, lame Clara. 

When Clara had looked a long time at the 
cloudless sky above and all the rocky crags, 
she said longingly: “I wish I could walk 
round the hut to the fir-trees. If I only could 
see all the things you told me so much about!” 


NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 


Heidi pushed with all her might, and be¬ 
hold! the chair rolled easily over the dry 
grass. When they had come into the little 
grove, Clara could not see her fill of those 
splendid trees that must have stood there 
so many, many years. Although the people 
had changed and vanished, they had re¬ 
mained the same, ever looking down into 
the valley. 

When they passed the empty goat-shed, 
Clara said pitifully: “Oh grandmama, if I 
could only wait up here for Schwanli and 
Barli! I am afraid I shan’t see Peter and his 
goats, if we have to go away so soon again.” 

“Dear child, enjoy now what you can,” 
said the grandmama, who had followed. 

“Oh, what wonderful flowers!” exclaimed 
Clara again; “whole bushes of exquisite, 
red blossoms. Oh, if I could only pick some 
of those bluebells!” 

Heidi, immediately gathering a large 
bunch, put them in Clara’s lap. 

“Clara, this is really nothing in compari¬ 
son with the many flowers in the pasture. 


HEIDI 






You must come up once and see them. 
There are so many that the ground seems 
golden with them. If you ever sit down 
among them, you will feel as if you could 
never get up any more, it is so beautiful.’' 

“Oh, grandmama, do you think I can 
ever go up there?” Clara asked with a wild 
longing in her eyes. “If I could only walk 
with you, Heidi, and climb round every¬ 
where!” 

“I’ll push you!” Heidi said for comfort. 
To show how easy it was, she pushed the 
chair at such a rate that it would have tum¬ 
bled dowh the mountain, if the grandfather 
had not stopped it at the last moment. 

It was time for dinner now. The table 
was spread near the bench, and soon every¬ 
body sat down. The grandmother was so 
overcome by the view and the delicious 
wind that fanned her cheek that she re¬ 
marked: “What a wondrous place this is! I 
have never seen its like! But what do I see?” 
she continued. “I think you are actually 

eating your second piece of cheese, Clara?” 

262 





NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 


‘‘Oh grandmama, it tastes better than all 
the things we get in Ragatz,” replied the 
child, eagerly eating the savory dish. 

“Don’t stop, our mountain wind helps 
along where the cooking is faulty!” con¬ 
tentedly said the old man. 

During the meal the uncle and the grand¬ 
mama had soon got into a lively conver¬ 
sation. They seemed to agree on many 
things, and understood each other like old 
friends. A little later the grandmama looked 
over to the west. 

“We must soon start, Clara, for the sun 
is already low; our guides will be here 
shortly.” 

Clara’s face had become sad, and she en¬ 
treated: “Oh, please let us stay here an¬ 
other hour or so. We haven’t even seen 
the hut yet. I wish the day were twice as 
long.” 

The grandmama assented to Clara’s wish 
to go inside. . When the rolling-chair was 
found too broad for the door, the uncle 
quietly lifted Clara in his strong arms and 

263 



HEIDI 


■ 



\ 


carried her in. Grandmama was eagerly 
looking about her, glad to see everything 
so neat. Then going up the little ladder 
to the hay-loft, she discovered Heidi’s bed. 
“Is that your bed, Heidi? What a delicious 
perfume! It must be a healthy place to 
sleep,” she said, looking out through the 
window. The grandfather, with Clara, was 
coming up, too, with Heidi following. 

Clara was perfectly entranced. “What 
a lovely place to sleep! Oh, Heidi, you can 
look right up to the sky from your bed 
What a good smell! You can hear the fir- 
trees roar here, can’t you? Oh, I never saw 
a more delightful bed-room!” 

The uncle, looking at the old lady, said 
now: “I have an idea that it would give 
Clara new strength to stay up here with us 
a little while. Of course, I only mean if 
you did not object. You have brought so 
many wraps that we can easily make a soft 
bed for Clara here. My dear lady, you can 
easily leave the care to me. I’ll undertake 
it gladly.” 


NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 



The children screamed for joy, and grand- 
mama’s face was beaming. 

“What a fine man you are!” she burst 
out. “I was just thinking myself that a 
stay here would strengthen the child, but 
then I thought of the care and trouble for 
you. And now you have offered to do it, as 
if it was nothing at all. How can I thank 
you enough, uncle?” 

After shaking hands many times, the two 
prepared Clara’s bed, which, thanks to the 
old lady’s precautions, was soon so soft that 
the hay could not be felt through at all. 

The uncle had carried his new patient 
back to her rolling-chair, and there they 
found her sitting, with Heidi beside her. 
They were eagerly talking of their plans for 
the coming weeks. When they were told 
that Clara might stay for a month or so, 
their faces beamed more than ever. 

The guide, with the horse, and the car¬ 
riers of the chair, now appeared, but the 
last two were not needed any more and 
could be sent away. 

265 



JM 



4 »# • 


HEIDI 


When the grandmother got ready to leave, 
Clara called gaily to her: “Oh grandmama, 
it won’t be long, for you must often come 
and see us.” 

While the uncle was leading the horse 
down the steep incline, the grandmama told 
him that she would go back to Ragatz, for 
the Dorfli was too lonely for her. She also 
promised to come back from time to time. 

Before the grandfather had returned, Peter 
came racing down to the hut with all his 
goats. Seeing Heidi, they ran up to her in 
haste, and so Clara made the acquaintance 
of Schwanli and Barli and all the others. 

Peter, however, kept away, only sending 
furious looks at the two girls. When they 
bade him good-night, he only ran away, 
beating the air with his stick. 

The end of the joyous day had come. 
The two children were both lying in their beds. 

“Oh, Heidi!” Clara exclaimed, “I can see 
so many glittering stars, and I feel as if we 
were driving in a high carriage straight into 
the sky.” 

266 



NEWS FROM DISTANT FRIENDS 

“Yes, and do you know why the stars 
twinkle so merrily?” inquired Heidi. 

“No, but tell me.” 

“Because they know that God in heaven 
looks after us mortals and we never need 
to fear. See, they twinkle and show us how 
to be merry, too. But Clara, we must not 
forget to pray to God and ask Him to think 
of us and keep us safe.” . 

Sitting up in bed, they then said their 
evening prayer. As soon as Heidi lay down, 
she fell asleep. But Clara could not sleep 
quite yet, it was too wonderful to see the 
stars from her bed. 

In truth she had never seen them before, 
because in Frankfurt all the blinds were al¬ 
ways down long before the stars came out, 
and at night she had never been outside 
the house. She could hardly keep her eyes 
shut, and had to open them again and again 
to watch the twinkling, glistening stars, till 
her eyes closed at last and she saw two big, 
glittering stars in her dream. 



\i u v 








XXI 

OF FURTHER EVENTS 
ON THE ALP 

HE sun was just rising, and the 
Aim-Uncle was w atching how 
mountain and dale awoke to 
the new day, and the clouds 
above grew brighter. 

Next, the old man turned to go back into 
the hut, and softly climbed the ladder. Clara, 
having just a moment ago opened her eyes, 
looked about her in amazement. Bright sun¬ 
beams danced on her bed. Where was she? 
But soon she discovered her sleeping friend, 
and heard the grandfather’s cheery voice: 

“How did you sleep? Not tired?” 

Clara, feeling fresh and rested, said that 
she had never slept better in all her life. 
Heidi was soon awake, too, and lost no time 
in coming down to join Clara, who was al¬ 
ready sitting in the sun. 


-A.:?- 







OF FURTHER EVENTS 


A cool morning breeze fanned their 
cheeks, and the spicy fragrance from the 
fir-trees filled their lungs with every breath. 
Clara had never experienced such well-being 
in all her life. She had never breathed such 
pure, cool morning air and never felt such 
warm, delicious sunshine on her feet and 
hands. It surpassed all her expectations. 

“Oh, Heidi, I wish I could always stay 
up here with you!” she said. 

“Now you can see that everything is as 
beautiful as I told you,” Heidi replied tri¬ 
umphantly. “Up on the Alp with grand¬ 
father is the loveliest spot in all the world.” 

The grandfather was just coming out of 
the shed with two full bowls of steaming, 
snow-white milk. Handing one to each of 
the children, he said to Clara: “This will 
do you good, little girl. It comes from 
Schwanli and will give you strength. To 
your health! Just drink it!” he said en¬ 
couragingly, for Clara had hesitated a little. 
But when she saw that Heidi’s bowl was 
nearly empty already, she also drank with- 

269 


HEIDI 


out even stopping. Oh, how good it was! 
It tasted like cinnamon and sugar.” 

‘‘We’ll take two tomorrow,” said the 
grandfather. 

After their breakfast, Peter arrived. While 
the goats were rushing up to Heidi, bleating 
loudly, the grandfather took the boy aside. 

“Just listen, and do what I tell you,” he 
said. “From now on you must let Schwanli 
go wherever she likes. She knows where to 
get the richest herbs, and you must follow 
her, even if she should go higher up than 
usual. It won’t do you any harm to climb 
a little more, and will do all the others 
good. I want the goats to give me splendid 
milk, remember. What are you looking at 
so furiously?” 

Peter was silent, and without more ado 
started off, still angrily looking back now 
and then. As Heidi had followed a little 
way, Peter called to her: “You must come 
along, Heidi, Schwanli has to be followed 
everywhere.” 

“No, but I can’t,” Heidi called back: “I 

270 



OF FURTHER EVENTS 


won’t be able to come as long as Clara is 
with me. Grandfather has promised, though, 
to let us come up with you once.” 

With those words Heidi returned to Clara, 
while the goatherd was hurrying onward, 
angrily shaking his fists. 

The children had promised to write a let¬ 
ter to grandmama every day, so they im¬ 
mediately started on their task. Heidi 
brought out her own little three-legged 
stool, her school-books and her papers, 
and with these on Clara’s lap they began 
to write. Clara stopped after nearly every 
sentence, for she had to look around. Oh, how 
peaceful it was with the little gnats dancing in 
the sun and the rustling of the trees! From 
time to time they could hear the shouting 
of a shepherd re-echoed from many rocks. 

The morning had passed, they knew not 
how, and dinner was ready. They again 
ate outside, for Clara had to be in the open 
air all day, if possible. The afternoon was 
spent in the cool shadow of the fir-trees. 
Clara had many things to relate of Frankfurt 

271 



HEIDI 


and all the people that Heidi knew. It was 
not long before Peter arrived with his flock, 
but without even answering the girls’ friendly 
greeting, he disappeared with a grim scowl. 

While Schwanli was being milked in the 
shed, Clara said: 

“Oh, Heidi, I feel as if I could not wait 
for my milk. Isn’t it funny? All my life I 
have only eaten because I had to. Every¬ 
thing always tasted to me like cod-liver oil, 
and I have often wished that I should never 
have to eat. And now I am so hungry!” 

“Oh yes, I know,” Heidi replied. She 
had to think of the days in Frankfurt when 
her food seemed to stick in her throat. 

When at last the full bowls were brougnt 
by the old man, Clara, seizing hers, eagerly 
drank the contents in one draught and even 
finished before Heidi. 

“Please, may I have a little more?” she 
asked, holding out the bowl. 

Nodding, much pleased, the grandfather 
soon refilled it. This time he also brought 
with him a slice of bread and butter for the 

272 





OF FURTHER EVENTS 


children. He had gone to Maiensass that 
afternoon to get the butter, and his trouble 
was well rewarded: they enjoyed it as if it 
had been the rarest dish. 

This evening Clara fell asleep the moment 
she lay down. Two or three days passed 
in this pleasant way. The next brought a 
surprise. Two strong porters came up the 
Alp, each carrying on his back a fresh, white 
bed. They also brought a letter from grand- 
mama, in which she thanked the children 
for their faithful writing, and told them that 
the beds were meant for them. When they 
went to sleep that night, they found their 
new beds in exactly the same position as 
their former ones had been. 

Clara’s rapture in her new life grew greater 
every day, and she could not write enough 
of the grandfather’s kindly care and of Heidi’s 
entertaining stories. She told her grandmama 
that her first thought in the morning always 
was: “Thank God, I am still in the Aim-hut.” 

Grandmama was highly pleased at those, 
reports, and put her projected visit off a little 
18 273 


IIEIDI 


while, for she had found the ride pretty tiring. 

The grandfather took excellent care of 
his little patient, and no day passed on 
which he did not climb around to find the 
most savory herbs for Schwanli. The little 
goat thrived so that everybody could see 
it in the way her eyes were flashing. 

It was the third week of Clara’s stay. 
Every morning after the grandfather had 
carried her down, he said to her: “Would 
my Clara try to stand a little?” Clara al¬ 
ways sighed, “Oh, it hurts me so!” but 
though she would cling to him, he made her 
stand a little longer every day. 

This summer was the finest that had been 
for years. Day after day the sun shone on a 
cloudless sky, and at night it would pour its 
purple, rosy light down on the rocks and snow- 
fields till everything seemed to glow like fire. 

Heidi had told Clara over and over again 
of all the flowers on the pasture, of the 
masses of golden roses and the blue-flowers 
that covered the ground. She had just been 
telling it again, when a longing seized her, 

274 , 



***** 


‘V 


a . 

<H>. 




OF FURTHER EVENTS 


and jumping up she ran over to her grand¬ 
father, who was busy carving in the shop. 

“Oh, grandfather,” she cried from afar, 
“won’t you come with us to the pasture to¬ 
morrow? Oh, it’s so beautiful up there now.” 

“All right, I will,” he replied; “but tell 
Clara that she must do something to please 
me; she must try to stand longer this even¬ 
ing for me.” 

Heidi merrily came running with her mes¬ 
sage. Of course, Clara promised, for was it 
not her greatest wish to go up with Heidi 
to the pasture! When Peter returned this 
evening, he heard of the plan for the mor¬ 
row. But for answer Peter only growled, 
nearly hitting poor Thistlefinch in his anger. 

The children had just resolved to stay 
awake all night to talk about the coming 
day, when their conversation suddenly 
ceased and they were both peacefully slum¬ 
bering. In her dreams Clara saw before her a 
field that was thickly strewn with light-blue 
flowers, while Heidi heard the eagle scream 
to her from above, “Come, come, come!” 

275 





o 

by 


i 


vi li* %v ** 






SOMETHING UNEXPECTED 
HAPPENS 

HE next day dawned cloud¬ 
less and fair. The grand¬ 
father was still with the chil¬ 
dren, when Peter came climb¬ 
ing up; his goats kept at a 
good distance from him, to evade the rod, 
which was striking right and left. The 
truth was that the boy was terribly em¬ 
bittered and angry by the changes that had 
come. When he passed the hut in the morn¬ 
ing, Heidi was always busy with the strange 
child, and in the evening it was the same. 
All summer long Heidi had not been up with 
him a single time; it was too much! And 
to-day she was coming at last, but again 
in company with this hateful stranger. 

It was then that Peter noticed the rolling- 
chair standing near the hut. After care- 


q v<j%. 








RE WATCHED HIS FALLEN ENEMY TUMBLING DOWNWARDS. DOWNWARDS 












SOMETHING HAPPENS 


fully glancing about him, he rushed at 
the hated object and pushed it down the 
incline. The chair fairly flew away and had 
soon disappeared. 

Peter’s conscience smote him now, and 
he raced up the Alp, not daring to pause 
till he had reached a blackberry bush. There 
he could hide, when the uncle might appear. 
Looking down, he watched his fallen enemy 
tumbling downwards, downwards. 

Sometimes it was thrown high up into 
the air, to crash down again the next mo¬ 
ment harder than ever. Pieces were falling 
from it right and left, and were blown about. 
Now the stranger would have to travel home 
and Heidi would be his again! But Peter 
had forgotten that a bad deed always brings 
a punishment. 

Heidi just now came out of the hut. The 
grandfather, with Clara, followed. Heidi at 
first stood still, and then, running right and 
left, she returned to the old man. 

“What does this mean? Have you rolled 
the chair away Heidi?” he asked. 





HEIDI 


“I am just looking for it everywhere, 
grandfather. You said it was beside the 
shop door,” said the child, still hunting for 
the missing object. A strong wind was 
blowing, which at this moment violently 
closed the shop-door. 

“Grandfather, the wind has done it,” ex¬ 
claimed Heidi eagerly. “Oh dear! if it has 
rolled all the way down to the village, it 
will be too late to go to-day. It will take 
us a long time to fetch it.” 

“If it has rolled down there, we shall 
never get it any more, for it will be smashed 
to pieces,” said the old man, looking down 
and measuring the distance from the corner 
of the hut. 

“I don’t see how it happened,” he re¬ 
marked. 

“What a shame! now I’ll never be able 
to go up to the pasture,” lamented Clara. 
“I am afraid I’ll have to go home now'. 
What a pity, what a pity!” 

“You can find a way for her to stay, 
grandfather, can’t you?” 

278 



SOMETHING HAPPENS 


“We’ll go up to the pasture to-day, as we 
have planned. Then we shall see what fur¬ 
ther happens.” 

The children were delighted, and the 
grandfather lost no time in getting ready. 
First he fetched a pile of covers, and seat¬ 
ing Clara on a sunny spot on the dry ground, 
he got their breakfast. 

“I wonder why Peter is so late to-day,” 
he said, leading his goats out of the shed. 
Then, lifting Clara up on one strong arm, 
he carried the covers on the other. 

“Now, march!” he cried. “The goats 
come with us.” 

That suited Heidi, and with one arm 
round Schw r anli and the other round Barli, 
she wandered up. Her little companions 
were so pleased at having her with them 
again that they nearly crushed her with af¬ 
fection. 

What was their astonishment when, ar¬ 
riving on top, they saw Peter already lying 
on the ground, with his peaceful flock about 
him. 

<?T9 



HEIDI 


“What did you mean by going by us like 
that? I’ll teach you!” called the uncle to 
him. 

Peter was frightened, for he knew the voice. 

“Nobody was up yet,” the boy retorted. 

“Have you seen the chair?” asked the 
uncle again. 

“Which?” Peter growled. 

The uncle said no more. Unfolding the 
covers, he put Clara down on the dry grass. 
Then, when he had been assured of Clara’s 
comfort, he got ready to go home. The 
three were to stay there till his return in the 
evening. When dinner time had come, Heidi 
was to prepare the meal and see that Clara 
got Schwanli’s milk. 

The sky was a deep blue, and the snow on 
the peaks was glistening. The eagle was 
floating above the rocky crags. The chil¬ 
dren felt wonderfully happy. Now and then 
one of the goats would come and lie down 
near them. Tender little Snowhopper came 
oftener than any and would rub her head 
against their shoulders. 



SOMETHING HAPPENS 


They had been sitting quietly for a few 
hours, drinking in the beauty about them, 
when Heidi suddenly began to long for the 
spot where so many flowers grew. In the 
evening it would be too late to see them, for 
they always shut their little eyes by then. 

“Oh, Clara,” she said hesitatingly, “would 
you be angry if I went away from you a 
minute and left you alone? I want to see 
the flowers; But wait!—” Jumping away, 
she brought Clara some bunches of fragrant 
herbs and put them in her lap. Soon after 
she returned with little Snowhopper. 

“So, now' you don’t need to be alone,” 
said Heidi. When Clara had assured her 
that it w r ould give her pleasure to be left 
alone with the goats, Heidi started on her 
w r alk. Clara slowly handed one leaf after 
another to the little creature; it became 
more and more confiding, and cuddling close 
to the child, ate the herbs out of her hand. 
It was easy to see how happy it was to be 
away from the boisterous big goats, which 

often annoyed it. Clara felt a sensation of 

281 



HEIDI 



contentment such as she had never before 
experienced. She loved to sit there on the 
mountain-side with the confiding little goat 
by her. A great desire rose in her heart that 
hour. She longed to be her own master 
and be able to help others instead of being 
helped by them. Many other thoughts and 
ideas rushed through her mind. How would 
it be to live up here in continual sunshine? 
The world seemed so joyous and wonderful 
all of a sudden. Premonitions of future 
undreamt-of happiness made her heart beat. 
Suddenly she threw both arms about the 
little goat and said: “Oh, little Snowhopper 
how beautiful it is up here! If I could 
always stay with you!” 

Heidi in the meantime had reached the 
spot, where, as she had expected, the whole 
ground was covered with yellow rock-roses. 
Near together in patches the blue-bells 
were nodding gently in the breeze. But all 
the perfume that filled the air came from 
the modest little brown flowers that hid 

their heads between the golden flower-cups. 

282 



SOMETHING HAPPENS 

Heidi stood enraptured, drawing in the per¬ 
fumed air. 

Suddenly she turned and ran back to 
Clara, shouting to her from far: “Oh, you 
must come, Clara, it is so lovely there. In 
the evening it won’t be so fine any more. 
Don’t you think I could carry you?” 

“But Heidi,” Clara said, “of course you 
can’t; you are much smaller than I am. Oh, 
I wish I could walk!” 

Heidi meditated a little. Peter was still 
lying on the ground. He had been staring 
down for hours, unable to believe what he 
saw before him. He had destroyed the chair 
to get rid of the stranger, and there she was 
again, sitting right beside his playmate. 

Heidi now called to him to come down, 
but as reply he only grumbled: “Shan’t 
come.” 

“But you must; come quickly, for I want 
you to help me. Quickly!” urged the child. 

“Don’t want to,” sounded the reply. 

Heidi hurried up the mountain now and 
shouted angrily to the boy: “Peter, if you 





„ 



'h> ' V' ... <1 


HEIDI 


don’t come this minute, I shall do some¬ 
thing that you won’t like.” 

Those words scared Peter, for his con¬ 
science was not clear. His deed had rejoiced 
him till this moment, when Heidi seemed 
to talk as if she knew it all. What if the 
grandfather should hear about it! Trem¬ 
bling with fear, Peter obeyed. 

“I shall only come if you promise not to 
do what you said,” insisted the boy. 

“No, no, I won’t. Don’t be afraid,” said 
Heidi compassionately: “Just come along; 
it isn’t so hard.” 

Peter, on approaching Clara, was told to 
help raise the lame child from the ground 
on one side, while Heidi helped on the other. 
This went easily enough, but difficulties 
soon followed. Clara was not able to stand 
alone, and how could they get any further? 

“You must take me round the neck,” 
said Heidi, who had seen what poor guides 
they made. 

The boy, who had never offered his arm 
to anybody in his life, had to be shown how 



SOMETHING HAPPENS 


first, before further efforts could be made. 
But it was too hard. Clara tried to set her 
feet forward, but got discouraged. 

“Press your feet on the ground more and 
I am sure it will hurt you less,” suggested 
Heidi. 

“Do you think so?” said Clara, timidly. 

But, obeying, she ventured a firmer step 
and soon another, uttering a little cry as she 
went. 

“Oh, it really has hurt me less,” she said 
joyfully. 

“Try it again,” Heidi urged her. Clara 
did, and took another step, and then another, 
and another still. Suddenly she cried aloud: 
“Oh, Heidi, I can do it. Oh, I really can. 
Just look! I can take steps, one after 
another.” 

Heidi rapturously exclaimed: “Oh, Clara, 
can you really? Can you walk? Oh, can 
you take steps now? Oh, if only grand¬ 
father would come! Now you can walk, 
Clara, now you can walk,” she kept on say¬ 
ing joyfully. 


heiBi 


Clara held on tight to the children, but 
with every new step she became more firm 

“Now you can come up here every 
day,” cried Heidi. “Now we can walk 
wherever we want to and you don’t have to 
be pushed in a chair any more. Now you’ll 
be able to walk all your life. Oh, what joy!” 

Clara’s greatest wish, to be able to be 
well like other people, had been fulfilled at 
last. It was not very far to the flowering 
field. Soon they reached it and sat down 
among the wealth of bloom. It was the 
first time that Clara had ever rested on the 
dry, warm earth. All about them the flowers 
nodded and exhaled their perfume. It was 
a scene of exquisite beauty. 

The two children could hardly grasp this 
happiness that had come to them. It filled 
their hearts brimming full and made them 
silent. Peter also lay motionless, for he had 
gone to sleep. 

Thus the hours flew, and the day was 
long past noon. Suddenly all the goats ar¬ 
rived, for they had been seeking the chil- 

286 



SOMETHING HAPPENS 


dren. They did not like to graze in the 
flowers, and were glad when Peter awoke 
with their loud bleating. The poor boy was 
mightily bewildered, for he had dreamt that 
the rolling-chair with the red cushions stood 
again before his eyes. On awaking, he had 
still seen the golden nails; but soon he dis¬ 
covered that they were nothing but flowers. 
Remembering his deed, he obeyed Heidi’s 
instructions willingly. 

When they came back to their former 
place, Heidi lost no time in setting out the 
dinner. The bag was very full to-day, and 
Heidi hurried to fulfill her promise to Peter, 
who with bad conscience had understood 
her threat differently. She made three heaps 
of the good things, and when Clara and she 
were through, there was still a lot left for 
the boy. It was too bad that all this treat 
did not give him the usual satisfaction, for 
something seemed to stick in his throat. 

Soon after their belated dinner, the grand¬ 
father was seen climbing up the Alp. Heidi 
ran to meet him, confusedly telling him of 


HEIDI 


the great event. The old man’s face shone 
at this news. Going over to Clara, he said: 
“So you have risked it? Now we have won.” 

Then picking her up, he put one arm 
around her waist, and the other one he 
stretched out as support, and with his help 
she marched more firmly than ever. Heidi 
jumped and bounded gaily by their side. 
In all this excitement the grandfather did 
not lose his judgment, and before long lifted 
Clara on his arm to carry her home. He 
knew that too much exertion would be dan¬ 
gerous, and rest was needed for the tired 
girl. 

Peter, arriving in the village late that 
day, saw a large disputing crowd. They 
were all standing about an interesting ob¬ 
ject, and everybody pushed and fought for 
a chance to get nearest. It was no other 
than the chair. 

“I saw it when they carried it up,” Peter 
heard the baker say. “I bet it was worth 
at least five hundred francs. I should just 
like to know how it has happened.” 



SOMETHING HAPPENS 


“The wind might have blown it down,” 
remarked Barbara, who was staring open- 
mouthed at the beautiful velvet cushions. 
“The uncle said so himself.” 

“It is a good thing if nobody else has 
done it,” continued the baker. “When the 
gentleman from Frankfurt hears what has 
happened, he’ll surely find out all about it, 
and I should pity the culprit. I am glad I 
haven’t been up on the Aim for so long, 
else they might suspect me, as they would 
anybody who happened to be up there at 
the time.” 

Many more opinions were uttered, but 
Peter had heard enough. He quietly slipped 
away and went home. What if they should 
find out he had done it? A policeman 
might arrive any time now and they might 
take him away to prison. Peter’s hair stood 
up on end at this alarming thought. 

He was so troubled when he came home 
that he did not answer any questions and 
even refused his dish of potatoes. Hur¬ 
riedly creeping into bed, be groaned. 


HEIDI 


“I am sure Peter has eaten sorrel again, 
and that makes him groan so,” said his 
mother. 

“You must give him a little more bread 
in the morning, Brigida. Take a piece of 
mine,” said the compassionate grandmother. 

When Clara and Heidi were lying in their 
beds that night, glancing up at the shining 
stars, Heidi remarked: “Didn’t you think 
to-day, Clara, that it is fortunate God 
does not always give us what we pray for 
fervently, because He knows of something 
better?” 

“What do you mean, Heidi?” asked Clara. 

“You see, when I was in Frankfurt I 
prayed and prayed to come home again, 
and when I couldn’t, I thought He had for¬ 
gotten me. But if I had gone away so soon 
you would never have come here and would 
never have got well.” 

Clara, becoming thoughtful, said: “But, 
Heidi, then we could not pray for anything 
any more, because we would feel that He 
always knows of something better.” 


SOMETHING HAPPENS 


“But, Clara, we must pray to God every 
day to show we don’t forget that all gifts 
come from Him. Grandmama has told me 
that God forgets us if we forget Him. But 
if some wish remains unfulfilled we must 
show our confidence in Him, for he knows 
best.” 

“How did you ever think of that?” asked 
Clara. 

“Grandmama told me, but I know that 
it is so. We must thank God to-day that 
He has made you able to walk, Clara.” 

“I am glad that you have reminded me, 
Heidi, for I have nearly forgotten it in my 
excitement.” 

The children both prayed and sent their 
thanks up to heaven for the restoration of 
the invalid. 

Next morning a letter was written to 
grandmama, inviting her to come up to the 
Alp within a week’s time, for the children 
had planned to take her by surprise. Clara 
hoped then lo be able to walk alone, with 
Heidi for her guide. 



via- '*** 




i 







HEIDI 


The following days were happier still for 
Clara. Every morning she awoke with her 
heart singing over and over again, “Now I 
am well! Now I can walk like other people!” 

She progressed, and took longer walks 
every day. Her appetite grew amazingly, 
and the grandfather had to make larger 
slices of the bread and butter that, to his 
delight, disappeared so rapidly. He had to 
fill bowl after bowl of the foaming milk for 
the hungry children. In that way they 
reached the end of the week that was to 
bring the grandmama. 



11 





XXIII 

PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


DAY before her visit the 
grandmama had sent a let¬ 
ter to announce her coming. 
Peter brought it up with him 
next morning. The grand¬ 
father was already before the hut with the 
children and his merry goats. His face 
looked proud, as he contemplated the rosy 
faces of the girls and the shining hair of his 
two goats. 

Peter, approaching, neared the uncle 
slowly. As soon as he had delivered the let¬ 
ter, he sprang back shyly, looking about him 
as if he was afraid. Then with a leap he 
started off. 

k ‘I should like to know why Peter be¬ 
haves like the Big Turk when he is afraid 
of the rod,” said Heidi, watching his strange 
behavior. 



293 







HEIDI 


“ Maybe Peter fears a rod that he de¬ 
serves,” said the old man. 

All the way Peter was tormented with 
fear. He could not help thinking of the 
policeman who was coming from Frankfurt 
to fetch him to prison. 

It was a busy morning for Heidi, who put 
the hut in order for the expected visitor. 
The time went by quickly, and soon every¬ 
thing was ready to welcome the good grand- 
mama. 

The grandfather also returned from a 
walk, on which he had gathered a glorious 
bunch of deep-blue gentians. The children, 
who were sitting on the bench, exclaimed 
for joy when they saw the glowing flowers. 

Heidi, getting up from time to time to 
spy down the path, suddenly discovered 
grandmama, sitting on a white horse and 
accompanied by two men. One of them car¬ 
ried plenty of wraps, for without those the 
lady did not dare to.pay such a visit. 

The party came nearer and nearer, and 
soon reached the top. 

294 , 





PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


“What do I see? Clara, what is this? 
Why are you not sitting in your chair? 
How is this possible?” cried the grandmama 
in alarm, dismounting hastily. Before she 
had quite reached the children she threw 
her arms up in great excitement: 

“Clara, is that really you? You have 
red, round cheeks, my child! I hardly know 
you any more!” Grandmama was going to 
rush at her grandchild, when Heidi slipped 
from the bench, and Clara, taking her arm, 
they quietly took a little walk. The grand¬ 
mama was rooted to the spot from fear. 
What was this? Upright and firm, Clara 
walked beside her friend. When they came 
back their rosy faces beamed. Rushing 
toward the children, the grandmother hugged 
them over and over again. 

Looking over to the bench, she beheld the 
uncle, who sat there smiling. Taking Clara’s 
arm in hers, she walked over to him, con¬ 
tinually venting her delight. When she 
reached the old man, she took both his 
hands in hers and said: 

295 



HEIDI 


“My dear, dear uncle! What have we to 
thank you for! This is your work, your 
care and nursing—” 

“But our Lord’s sunshine and mountain 
air,” interrupted the uncle, smiling. 

Then Clara called, “Yes, and also 
Schwanli’s good, delicious milk. Grand- 
mama, you ought to see how much goat- 
milk I can drink now; oh, it is so good!” 

“Indeed I can see that from your cheeks,” 
said the grandmama, smiling. “No, I hardly 
recognize you any more. You have become 
broad and round! I never dreamt that you 
could get so stout and tall! Oh, Clara, is it 
really true? I cannot look at you enough. 
But now I must telegraph your father to 
come. I shan’t tell him anything about you, 
for it will be the greatest joy of all his life. 
My dear uncle, how are we going to manage 
it? Have you sent the men away?” 

“I have, but I can easily send the goat¬ 
herd.” 

So they decided that Peter should take 
the message. The uncle immediately whis- 

296 



PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


tied so loud that it resounded from all sides. 
Soon Peter arrived, white with fear, for he 
thought his doom had come. But he only 
received a paper that was to be carried to 
the post-office of the village. 

Relieved for the moment, Peter set out. 
Now all the happy friends sat down round 
the table, and grandmama was told how the 
miracle had happened. Often the talk was 
interrupted by exclamations of surprise from 
grandmama, who still believed it was all a 
dream. Plow could this be her pale, weak 
little Clara? The children were in a con¬ 
stant state of joy, to see how their surprise 
had worked. 

Meanwhile Mr. Sesemann, having fin¬ 
ished his business in Paris, was also prepar¬ 
ing a surprise. Without writing his mother 
he traveled to Ragatz on a sunny summer 
morning. He had arrived on this very day, 
some hours after his mother’s departure, 
and now, taking a carriage, he drove to 
Mayenfeld. 

The long ascent to the Alp from there 

297 




k 


HEIDI 


seemed very weary and far to the traveller. 
When would he reach the goat-herd’s hut? 
There were many little roads branching off 
in several directions, and sometimes Mr. 
Sesemann doubted if he had taken the right 
path. But not a soul was near, and no 
sound could be heard except the rustling 
of the wind and the hum of little insects. 
A merry little bird was singing on a larch- 
tree, but nothing more. 

Standing still and cooling his brow, he saw a 
boy running down the hill at topmost speed. 
Mr. Sesemann called to him, but with no 
success, for the boy kept at a shy distance. 

“Now, my boy, can’t you tell me if I am 
on the right path to the hut where Heidi 
lives and the people from Frankfurt are 
staying?” 

A dull sound of terror was the only reply. 
Peter shot off and rushed head over heels 
down the mountain-side, turning wild somer¬ 
saults on his perilous way. His course 
resembled the course his enemy had taken 
some days ago. 



PETER SHOT OFF AND HUSHED DOWN THE MOUNTAIN-SIDE, TURNING WILD 

SOMERSAULTS ON HIS PERILOUS WAY 








































































PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


“What a funny, bashful mountaineer!” 
Mr. Sesemann remarked to himself, think¬ 
ing that the appearance of a stranger had 
upset this simple son of the Alps. After 
watching the downward course of the boy 
a little while, he soon proceeded on his way. 

In spite of the greatest effort, Peter could 
not stop himself, and kept rolling on. But 
his fright and terror were still more terrible 
than his bumps and blows. This stranger 
was the policeman, that was a certain fact! 
At last, being thrown against a bush, he 
clutched it wildly. 

“Good, here’s another one!” a voice near 
Peter said. “I wonder who is going to be 
pushed down tomorrow, looking like a half¬ 
open potato-bag?” The village baker was 
making fun of him. For a little rest after 
his weary work, he had quietly watched 
the boy. 

Peter regained his feet and slunk away. 
How did the baker know the chair had been 
pushed? He longed to go home to bed and 
hide, for there alone he felt safe. But he 


HEIDI 


had to go up to the goats, and the uncle 
had clearly told him to come back as quickly 
as he could. Groaning, he limped away up 
to the Alp. How could he run now, with 
his fear and all his poor, sore limbs? 

Mr. Sesemann had reached the hut soon 
after meeting Peter, and felt reassured. 
Climbing further, with renewed courage, he 
at last saw his goal before him, but not 
without long and weary exertion. He saw T 
the Aim-hut above him, and the swaying 
fir-trees. Mr. Sesemann eagerly hurried to 
encounter his beloved child. They had seen 
him long ago from the hut, and a treat w T as 
prepared for him that he never suspected. 

As he made the last steps, he saw two 
forms coming towards him. A tall girl, 
with light hair and rosy face, was leaning 
on Heidi, whose dark eyes sparkled with 
keen delight. Mr. Sesemann stopped short, 
staring at this vision. Suddenly big tears 
rushed from his eyes, for this shape be¬ 
fore him recalled sweet memories. Clara’s 
mother had looked exactly like this fair 



PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 

maiden. Mr. Sesemann at this moment did 
not know if he was awake or dreaming. 

“Papa, don’t you know me any more?” 
Clara called with beaming eyes. “Have I 
changed so much?” 

Mr. Sesemann rushed up to her, folding 
her in his arms. “Yes, you have changed. 
How is it possible? Is it really true? Is it 
really you, Clara?” asked the over-joyed 
father, embracing her again and again, and 
then gazing at her, as she stood tall and 
firm by his side. 

His mother joined them now, for she 
wanted to see the happiness of her son. 

“What do you say to this, my son? Isn’t 
our surprise finer than yours?” she greeted 
him. “But come over to our benefactor 
now,—I mean the uncle.” 

“Yes, indeed, I also must greet our little 
Heidi,” said the gentleman, shaking Heidi’s 
hand. “Well? Always fresh and happy on 
the mountain? I guess I don’t need to ask, 
for no Alpine rose can look more blooming. 
Ah, child, what joy this is to me!” 

301 


HEIDI 


With beaming eyes the child looked at 
the kind gentleman who had always been 
so good to her. Her heart throbbed in sym¬ 
pathy with his joy. While the two men, 
who had at last approached each other, were 
conversing, grandmama walked over to the 
grove. There, under the fir-trees, another 
surprise awaited her. A beautiful bunch of 
wondrously blue gentians stood as if they 
had grown there. 

“How exquisite, how wonderful! What 
a sight!” she exclaimed, clapping her hands. 
“Heidi, come here! Have you brought me 
those? Oh, they are beautiful!” 

The children had joined her, Heidi assur¬ 
ing her that it was another person’s deed. 

“Oh grandmama, up on the pasture it 
looks just like that,” Clara remarked. “Just 
guess who brought you the flowers?” 

At that moment a rustle was heard, and 
they saw Peter, who was trying to sneak 
up behind the trees to avoid the hut. Im¬ 
mediately the old lady called to him, for 
she thought that Peter himself had picked 

302 



PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


the flowers for her. He must be creeping 
away out of sheer modesty, the kind lady 
thought. To give him his reward, she called: 

“Come here, my boy! don’t be afraid.” 

Petrified with fear, Peter stood still. What 
had gone before had robbed him of his courage. 
He thought now that all was over with him 
With his hair standing up on end and his pale 
face distorted by anguish, he approached. 

“Come straight to me, boy,” the old lady 
encouraged him. “Now tell me, boy, if 
you have done that.” 

In his anxiety, Peter did not see the grand- 
mama’s finger that pointed to the flowers. 
He only saw the uncle standing near the 
hut, looking at him penetratingly, and be¬ 
side him the policeman, the greatest horror 
for him in the world. Trembling in every 
limb, Peter answered, “Yes!” 

“Well, but what are you so frightened 
about?” 

“Because—because it is broken and can 
never be mended again,” Peter said, his 
knees tottering under him. 

303 



HEIDI 


The grandmama now walked over to the 
hut: “My dear uncle,” she asked kindly, 
“is this poor lad out of his mind?” 

“Not at all,” was the reply; “only the 
boy was the wind which blew away the 
wheel-chair. He is expecting the punish¬ 
ment he well deserves.” 

Grandmama was very much surprised, 
for she vowed that Peter looked far from 
wicked. Why should he have destroyed the 
chair? The uncle told her that he had no¬ 
ticed many signs of anger in the boy since 
Clara’s advent on the Alp. He assured her 
that he had suspected the boy from the 
beginning. 

“My dear uncle,” the old lady said with 
animation, “we must not punish him fur¬ 
ther. We must be just. It was very hard 
on him when Clara robbed him of Heidi, 
who is and was his greatest treasure. When 
he had to sit alone day after day, it roused 
him to a passion which drove him to this 
wicked deed. It was rather foolish, but we 
all get so when w T e get angry.” 



PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


The lady walked over to the boy again, 
who was still quivering with fear. 

Sitting down on the bench, she began: 

“Come, Peter, I’ll tell you something. 
Stop trembling and listen. You pushed the 
chair down, to destroy it. You knew very 
well that it was wicked and deserved pun¬ 
ishment. You tried very hard to conceal 
it, did you not? But if somebody thinks 
that nobody knows about a wicked deed, 
he is wrong; God always knows it. As soon 
as He finds that a man is trying to conceal 
an evil he has done. He wakens a little 
watchman in his heart, who keeps on prick¬ 
ing the person with a thorn till all his rest 
is gone. He keeps on calling to the evil¬ 
doer: ‘Now you’ll be found out! Now 
your punishment is near!’—His joy has 
flown, for fear and terror take its place. 
Have you not just had such an experience, 
Peter?” 

Peter nodded, all contrite. He certainly 
had experienced this. 

“You have made a mistake,” the grand- 

20 305 



HEIDI 



mama continued, “by thinking that you 
would hurt Clara by destroying her chair. 
It has so happened that what you have 
done has been the greatest good for her. 
She would probably never have tried to 
walk, if her chair had been there. If she 
should stay here, she might even go up to 
the pasture every single day. Do you see, 
Peter? God can turn a misdeed to the good 
of the injured person and bring trouble on the 
offender. Have you understood me, Peter? 
Remember the little watchman when you long 
to do a wicked deed again. Will you do that?” 

“Yes, I shall,” Peter replied, still fearing 
the policeman, who had not left yet. 

“So now that matter is all settled,” said 
the old lady in conclusion. “Now tell me 
if you have a wish, my boy, for I am going 
to give you something by which to remember 
your friends from Frankfurt. What is it? 
What would you like to have?” 

Peter, lifting his head, stared at the grand- 
mama with round, astonished eyes. He was 
confused by this sudden change of prospect. 

306 





PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 

Being again urged to utter a wish, he saw 
at last that he was saved from the power 
of the terrible man. He felt as if the most 
crushing load had fallen off him. He knew 
now that it was better to confess at once, 
when something had gone wrong, so he said: 
“I have also lost the paper/’ 

Reflecting a while, the grandmama under¬ 
stood and said: “That is right. Always con¬ 
fess what is wrong, then it can be settled. 
And now, what would you like to have?” 

So Peter could choose everything in the 
world he wished. His brain got dizzy. He 
saw before him all the wonderful things in 
the fair in Mayenfeld. He had often stood 
there for hours, looking at the pretty red 
whistles and the little knives; unfortunately 
Peter had never possessed more than half 
what those objects cost. 

He stood thinking, not able to decide, 
when a bright thought struck him. 

“Ten pennies,” said Peter with decision. 

“That certainly is not too much,” the 
old lady said with a smile, taking out of her 










* 


HEIDI 


pocket a big, round thaler, on top of which 
she laid twenty pennies. “Now I’ll explain 
this to you. Here you have as many times 
ten pennies as there are weeks in the year. 
You’ll be able to spend one every Sunday 
through the year.” 

“ All my life?” Peter asked quite innocently. 

The grandmama began to laugh so heart¬ 
ily at this that the two men came over to 
join her. 

Laughingly she said: “You shall have it 
my boy; I will put it in my will and then 
you will do the same, my son. Listen! 
Peter the goatherd shall have a ten-penny 
piece weekly as long as he lives.” 

Mr. Sesemann nodded. 

Peter, looking at his gift, said solemnly: 
“God be thanked!” Jumping and bound¬ 
ing, he ran away. His heart was so light 
that he felt he could fly. 

A little later the whole party sat round 
the table holding a merry feast. After din¬ 
ner, Clara, who was lively as never before, 
said to her father: 


PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


“Oh, Papa, if you only knew all the 
things grandfather did for me. It would 
take many days to tell you; I shall never 
forget them all my life. Oh, if we could 
please him only half as much as what he 
did for me.” 

“It is my greatest wish, too, dear child,” 
said her father; “I have been trying to 
think of something all the time. We have 
to show our gratitude in some way.” 

Accordingly Mr. Sesemann walked over 
to the old man, and began: “My dear 
friend, may I say one word to you. I am 
sure you believe me when I tell you that 
I have not known any real joy for years. 
What was my wealth to me when I could 
not cure my child and make her happy! 
With the help of the Lord you have made 
her well. You have given her a new life. 
Please tell me how to show my gratitude 
to you. I know I shall never be able to re¬ 
pay you, but what is in my power I shall do. 
Have you any request to make? Please let 
me know.” 


HEIDI 


The uncle had listened quietly and had 
looked at the happy father. 

“Mr. Sesemann, you can be sure that I 
also am repaid by the great joy I experience 
at the recovery of Clara,” said the uncle 
firmly. “I thank you for your kind offer, 
Mr. Sesemann. As long as I live I have 
enough for me and the child. But I have 
one wish. If this could be fulfilled, my life 
would be free of care.” 

“Speak, my dear friend,” urged Clara’s 
father. 

“I am old,” continued the uncle, “and 
shall not live many years. When I die I 
cannot leave Heidi anything. The child has 
no relations except one, who even might try 
to take advantage of her if she could. If 
you would give me the assurance, Mr. Sese¬ 
mann, that Heidi will never be obliged to 
go into the world and earn her bread, you 
would amply repay me for what I was able 
to do for you and Clara.” 

“My dear friend, there is no question of 
that,” began Mr. Sesemann; “the child be- 

310 



PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


longs to us! I promise at once that we 
shall look after her so that there will not 
be any need of her ever earning her bread. 
We all know that she is not fashioned for 
a life among strangers. Nevertheless, she 
has made some true friends, and one of them 
will be here very shortly. Dr. Classen is 
just now completing his last business in 
Frankfurt. He intends to take your advice 
and live here. He has never felt so happy 
as with you and Heidi. The child will have 
two protectors near her, and I hope with 
God's will, that they may be spared a long, 
long time.” 

“And may it be God’s will!” added the 
grandmama, who with Heidi had joined 
them, shaking the uncle tenderly by the 
hand. Putting her arms around the child, 
she said: “Heidi, I want to know if you 
also have a wish?” 

“Yes indeed, I have,” said Heidi, pleased. 

“Tell me what it is, child!” 

“I should like to have my bed from 
Frankfurt with the three high pillows and 



HEIDI 

the thick, warm cover. Then grandmother 
will be able to keep warm and won’t have 
to wear her shawl in bed. Oh, I’ll be so 
happy when she won’t have to lie with her 
head lower than her heels, hardly able to 
breathe!” 

Heidi had said all this in one breath, she 
was so eager. 

“Oh dear, I had nearly forgotten what 
I meant to do. I am so glad you have re¬ 
minded me, Heidi. If God sends us hap¬ 
piness we must think of those who have 
many privations. I shall telegraph imme¬ 
diately for the bed, and if Miss Rottenmeier 
sends it off at once, it can be here in two 
days. I hope the poor blind grandmother 
will sleep better when it comes.” 

Heidi, in her happiness, could hardly wait 
to bring the old woman the good news. 
Soon it was resolved that everybody should 
visit the grandmother, who had been left 
alone so long. Before starting, however, 
Mr. Sesemann revealed his plans. He pro¬ 
posed to travel through Switzerland with 

312 



*> 


PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


his mother and Clara. He would spend the 
night in the village, so as to fetch Clara 
from the Aim next morning for the journey. 
From there they would go first to Ragatz 
and then further. The telegram was to be 
mailed that night. 

Clara’s feelings were divided, for she was 
sorry to leave the Alp, but the prospect of 
the trip delighted her. 

When everything was settled, they all 
went down, the uncle carrying Clara, who 
could not have risked the lengthy walk. 
All the way down Heidi told the old lady 
of her friends in the hut; the cold they had 
to bear in winter and the little food they 
had. 

Brigida was just hanging up Peter’s shirt 
to dry, when the whole company arrived. 
Rushing into the house, she called to her 
mother: “Now they are all going away. 
Uncle is going, too, carrying the lame 
child.” 

“Oh, must it really be?” sighed the grand¬ 
mother. “Have you seen whether they 

313 


HEIDI 


took Heidi away? Oh, if she only could 
give me her hand once more! Oh, I long 
to hear her voice once more!” 

The same moment the door was flung 
open and Heidi held her tight. 

“Grandmother, just think. My bed with 
the three pillows and the thick cover is com¬ 
ing from Frankfurt. Grandmama has said 
that it will be here in two days.” 

Heidi thought that grandmother would be 
beside herself with joy, but the old woman, 
smiling sadly, said: 

“Oh, what a good lady she must be! I 
know I ought to be glad she is taking you 
with her, Heidi, but I don’t think I shall 
survive it long.” 

“But nobody has said so,” the grand¬ 
mama, who had overheard those words, said 
kindly. Pressing the old woman’s hand, 
she continued: “It is out of the question. 
Heidi will stay with you and make you 
happy. To see Heidi again, we will come 
up every year to the Aim, for we have many 
reasons to thank the Lord there.” 

314 



/ J u. . 

, *V». 


PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


Immediately the face of the grandmother 
lighted up, and she cried tears of joy. 

“Oh, what wonderful things God is doing 
for me!” said the grandmother, deeply 
touched. “How good people are to trouble 
themselves about such a poor old woman 
as I. Nothing in this world strengthens the 
belief in a good Father in Heaven more than 
this mercy and kindness shown to a poor, 
useless little woman, like me.” 

“My dear grandmother,” said Mrs. Sese- 
mann, “before God in Heaven we are all 
equally miserable and poor; woe to us, if 
He should forget us!—But now we must 
say good-bye; next year we shall come to 
see you just as soon as we come up the 
Alp. We shall never forget you!” With 
that, Mrs. Sesemann shook her hand. It 
was some time before she was allowed to 
leave, however, because the grandmother 
thanked her over and over again, and in¬ 
voked all Heaven’s blessings on her and 
her house. 

Mr. Sesemann and his mother went on 



315 





v ). 


% 




HEIDI 


down, while Clara was carried up to spend 
her last night in the hut. 

Next morning, Clara shed hot tears at 
parting from the beloved place, where such 
gladness had been hers. Heidi consoled her 
with plans for the coming summer, that 
was to be even more happy than this one 
had been. Mr. Sesemann then arrived, and 
a few last parting words were exchanged. 

Clara, half crying, suddenly said: 
“Please give my love to Peter and the 
goats, Heidi! Please greet Schwanli es¬ 
pecially from me, for she has helped a great 
deal in making me well. What could I 
give her?” 

“You can send her salt, Clara. You 
know how fond she is of that,” advised lit¬ 
tle Heidi. 

“Oh, I will surely do that,” Clara as¬ 
sented. “I’ll send her a hundred pounds 
of salt as a remembrance from me.” 

It was time to go now, and Clara was 
able to ride proudly beside her father. 
Standing on the edge of the slope, Heidi 




PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 

waved her hand, her eyes following Clara 
till she had disappeared. 


The bed has arrived. Grandmother sleeps 
so well every night now, that before long 
she will be stronger than ever. Grand- 
mama has not forgotten the cold winter on 
the Alp and has sent a great many warm 
covers and shawls to the goatherd’s hut. 
Grandmother can wrap herself up now and 
will not have to sit shivering in a corner. 

In the village a large building is in prog¬ 
ress. The doctor has arrived and is living 
at present in his old quarters. He has taken 
the uncle’s advice and has bought the old 
ruins that sheltered Heidi and her grand¬ 
father the winter before. He is rebuilding 
for himself the portion with the fine apart¬ 
ment already mentioned. The other side 
is being prepared for Heidi and her grand¬ 
father. The doctor knows that his friend 
is an independent man and likes to have 
his own dwelling. Barli and Schwanli, of 
course, are not forgotten; they will spend 

317 



HEIDI 


the winter in a good solid stable that is 
being built for them. 

The doctor and the Aim-Uncle become 
better friends every day. When they over¬ 
look the progress of the building, they gen¬ 
erally come to speak of Heidi. They both 
look forward to the time when they will be 
able to move into the house with their 
merry charge. They have agreed to share 
together the pleasure and responsibility that 
Heidi brings them. The uncle’s heart is 
filled with gratitude too deep for any words 
when the doctor tells him that he will make 
ample provision for the child. Now her 
grandfather’s heart is free of care, for if he 
is called away, another father will take 
care of Heidi and love her in his stead. 

At the moment when our story closes, 
Heidi and Peter are sitting in grandmother’s 
hut. The little girl has so many interest¬ 
ing things to relate and Peter is trying so 
hard not to miss anything, that in their 
eagerness they are not aware that they are 
near the happy grandmother’s chair. All 

318 



PARTING TO MEET AGAIN 


summer long they have hardly met, and very 
many wonderful things have happened. 
They are all glad at being together again, 
and it is hard to tell who is the happiest of 
the group. I think Brigida’s face is more 
radiant than any, for Heidi has just told her 
the story of the perpetual ten-penny piece. 
Finally the grandmother says: “Heidi, please 
read me a song of thanksgiving and praise. 
I feel that I must praise and thank the 
Lord for the blessings He has brought to 
us all!” 


The End. 


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